Correlation, path-coefficient and genetic diversity pattern in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

An experiment was carried out during winter (rabi) season of 2004 and 2005 to assess the correlation, path-coefficient, and genetic variability in 40 morphologically diverse accessions of fenugreck (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Plant height, primary branches, days to 50% flowering, pods/plant, grains/pod, days to maturity, 1000-seed weight and seed yield/plant showed significant differences and wide variations in both the years. Low differences between phenotypic co-efficient of variation and genotypic co-efficient of variation were observed for all descriptors in both the years. Pods/plant, 1000-seed weight and seed yield/plant in both the years showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance (per cent of mean) signifying the influence of additive gene effects. The descriptors pods/plant and 1000-seed weight had positive and significant correlation with seed yield/plant and exerted positive and high direct effects on seed yield/plant for both the years. Ward's clustering technique grouped accessions into 3 clusters having 24, 5 and I I accessions. Cluster I was the most distinct from other clusters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed the groupings obtained through cluster analysis and showed revealed that the first 3 principal components accounted for 74.89% variation. PC1 was related with primary branches, days to 50% flowering and seed yield/plant. From the principal component analysis ordination, it is observed that the scatters of points for the clusters have a central focus as well as significant outliers to some groups. This presumably comes from the third. The outliers and central clusters provide the opportunity to select accessions from the central as well as outliers for use in breeding programme.