Identification of parameters for selection of superior brinjal genotypes under healthy and fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.) infested conditions.

This investigation was carried out with fifteen brinjal genotypes during 200 8-10 to examine the direct and indirect effects of different growth and yield characters on yield of healthy and Leucinodes orbonalis infested genotypes through path analysis. Observations on growth and yield attributing characters viz. plant height, stem girth, number of twigs plant -1 , number of secondary branches, total number of twigs plant -1 , number of leaves plant -1 , length of leaf, leaf breadth, fruit length, fruit breadth, fruit stalk length, fruit stalk diameter, fruit volume, number of fruitsplant -1 and fruit weight plant -1 were recorded for the study. Simple correlation studies of these parameters with yield undertwo conditions revealed that fruit number per plant had the highest significant positive correlation followed by fruit stalk length and fruit length in both the cases. Partitioning of correlation values through path analysis study showed that fruit stalk lengthand fruit length in both the cases exhibited direct significant positive and negative effect on fruit yield, respectively. It was evident from the results that fruit stalk length and fruit number per plant should be given priority when selection for the varietalimprovement would be taken up even from both fields.