CHARACTER ASSOCIATION FOR YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS IN-FIELD BEANS (PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS L) CULTIVARS

The factors influencing the yield of 56 locally available and acquired field dean cultivars were studied by conducting correlation and path co-efficient analysis. The phenotypic correlation coefficients were ca lculated for all possible pairs of characters that included, on plant basis, mean seed yield, number of pods, number of branches and plant h eight; and on cultivar basis, mean 100 seed weight, number of seeds pe r pod and pod length. The average number of pods per plant showed sign ificant positive associations with seed yield for all the three season s followed by number of branches per plant and plant height in that or der. The mean hundred seed weight showed significant positive correlat ions with number of branches per plant and plant height but showed sig nificant and negative correlation with pod length for all the three se asons. The path analysis revealed that the number of pods per plant ha d the highest direct effect on seed yield followed by mean 100 seed we ight and plant height for all the three seasons. The most important in direct effect on seed yield was number of branches per plant via numbe r of pods per plant, followed by plant height. Thus, it is noticed tha t number of pods, mean 100 seed weight and plant height were the most important characters contributing towards stable seed yield for field beans. The number of branches per plant was also found to be worth con sidering due tg its large indirect effect on seed yield.