Genetic variability, character association and path analysis of yield and its component characters in lentil

Genetic variability, character association and path analysis between yield and its contributing traits were studied in 41 genotypes of cultivated lentil. Highly significant differences between genotypes were recorded for most of the characters studied except internode length, number of seeds/pod and seed weight. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation coupled with high heritability and high genetic advance in 100 seed weight, harvest index, biological and graiil yields per plant and also seeds and pods per plant indicate the predominance of additive gene effects in controlling these traits. Correlation and path coefficient analysis revealed that biological yield/plant, 100 seed weight, number of pods and seeds per plant were the most important characters for realizing improvement in grain yield in lentil.