correlation and sequential path model for some yield-related traits in melon (cucumis melo l.)

investigation of the interrelationships between yield and its components will improve the efficiency of a breeding program with appropriate selection criteria. in this study, the relationship among yield components and their direct and indirect influences on the total yield of melon were investigated. the study was based on evaluation of 49 entries gener-ated from a 7×7 diallel involving iranian melon landraces under two conditions of cultiva-tion, pruning and non-pruning. a sequential path model was used for ordering the vari-ous variables in first and second-order paths based on their maximum direct effect and minimal colinearity. two first-order variables, namely the number of fruits per plant and average weight of fruits per plant accounted for 91% and 83% of total variation in total weight per plant under the pruning and non-pruning conditions, respectively. the direct effects of these two variables on total weight per plant under non-pruning conditions were nearly equal, but the direct effect of average weight of fruits per plant in the pruning data set was much higher than the number of fruits per plant (1.14 vs. 0.73). all direct effects were found to be significant as indicated by bootstrap analysis. the results indicated the utility of the sequential path model for determining the interrelationships between yield and related traits in melon.