ASSOCIATION OF METRIC TRAITS AND PATH ANALYSIS IN COCOYAM, XANTHOSOMA SAGIITIFOLIUM (L.) SCHOTT.

Abstract

Correlation and path coefficients were studied for seven characters utilizing 16 genotypes ofcocoyam. Genotypic correlation coefficients were generally higher than phenotypic ones except for number of cormels with other characteristics such as dry matter content of corm and cormels, corm +cormel fresh weight, leaf area, and numberofleaves. Numberofleaves, leaf area and total cocoyam yield (corm + cormel fresh weight) were positively correlated with each other. The path coefficient analysis showed thatnumber ofleaveshad the highest genotypic correlation with cocoyam yield. Leaf area and number of cormels had high positive direct effect on cocoyam yield while dry matter content of corms exhibited high negative direct effect.