Path analysis under multicollinearity in green pepper

The main goals of this work were: a) to display genotype correlations in di rect and indirect effects of primary and secondary components on the produc tion of fruits, in green pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes, by mean of path analysis; b) to compare alternative methods of estimation of the path coefficients to avoid the adverse effects of multicollinearity. Based on th e magnitude of direct and indirect effects, none of the primary or secondar y components showed to be more important in the selection of more productiv e genotypes. In segregating populations, the character height of the plant might be useful in correlated response, by means of indirect selection. In the occurrence of moderate to severe multicollinearity between the characte rs, the elimination of variables from the regression model and the ridge pa th analysis showed to be efficient in reducing the high variances of the pa th coefficients found. However, when several variables need to be eliminate d, the disposal process becomes difficult and many analysis might be necess ary. Ridge path analysis, although, should by-pass the adverse effects of m ulticollinearity, without having great reduction on the coefficient determi nation values of the regression models.