Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Selected Red Tamarind (Tamarindus indica var rhodocarpha) Genetic Resources

Correlation and path coefficient analysis was carried out to identify suitable selection indices in 21 red tamarind genotypes for 15 characters. Correlation analysis revealed that length of inflorescence (cm), number of flowers/inflorescence, number of fruits/inflorescence, fruit length (cm), fruit breadth (cm), fruit weight (g), pulp weight (g) and anthocyanin content (mg/litre) contributed to a large extent to yield per tree. Hence these characters could be effectively used in red tamarind improvement programme for selecting genotypes with higher yield and quality as they show positive and significant association. However in path coefficient analysis, the length of inflorescence, fruit length, anthocyanin content and total sugar contributing directly to the yield and most other characters associated to fruit yield are contributing indirectly through these characters. Hence it might be inferred that these traits could be considered as most important yield contributing traits in red tamarind.