Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Morphological and Biochemical Traits in Diverse Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Genotypes

The present experiment was conducted to study the correlation and path coefficient analyses among some morphological and biochemical traits of twenty-three pomegranate genotypes. Results of correlation analysis showed a high, positive and statistically significant (at 0.1% P) correlation between fruit weight and fruit length (r= 0.897), peel weight (r=0.931), fruit volume (r= 0.67), fruit diameter (r=0.554) and total number of arils per fruit (r=0.428). Peel weight exerted direct positive effect as well indirect positive effect on fruit weight through characters like fruit volume, fruit length, total no. of arils per fruit, aril weight and fruit diameter while among the biochemical traits, fruit juiciness exerted maximum positive direct effect on TSS (0.298). The results suggested that these traits could be used for indirect selection of genotypes for higher yield and fruit quality traits will be suitable for cultivation as well as for use in breeding programme.