Correlations and path coefficient analysis of some biometric characters in egg plant

In general, genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients. At genotypic level, the number of fruits/plant showed significantly high positive correlation with yield. Path analysis revealed that number of fruits/plant and average fruit weight had high direct positive effect on yield/plant. Characters like days to first harvest and days to fruit set had high negative direct effects on yield/plant. The reliable yield contributing characters are number of long-styled flowers/plant, number of fruits/plant and average fruit weight. However, the negative relationship observed between fruit weight and fruit number has indicated the need for judicious and simultaneous selection for these two characters.