Heritability, Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Twenty Ber Genotypes

A study was undertaken to analyses the heritability, correlation and path co-efficient for growth and fruit characters in twenty ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam) genotypes grown at Fruit Research Farm under Horticulture Research Centre, BARI during January to June 2006. The highest range of variation was recorded in fruit weight (6.63-44.72 g), followed by yield per plant (14.88 64.99 kg), stone weight (0.71-3.94 g) and pulpstone ratio (6.3117.89). The highest GCV (55.67 %) and PCV (55.67 %) were recorded for fruit weight while both were lowest for stone breadth (16.24 % and 17.12 %). High heritability coupled with high or moderate degree of genetic advance was estimated in fruit weight (99.35 % and 114.31), yield per plant (95.38 % and 93.38), stone weight (99.05 % and 90.82), pulp/stone ratio (98.74% and 66.34), fruit breadth (90.14 % and 49.70), stone length (98.34% and 51.83) and number of fruits per plant (89.90 % and 49.63). Strong positive correlation was found between yield per plant and individual fruit weight (r =0.965), stone weight (r =0.742), fruit length (r =0.737), fruit g g g breadth (r =0.807) and pulp-stone ratio (r =0.574). Among the selected characters, stone weight had the highest g g positive direct effect (1.777) on fruit yield followed by pulp/stone ratio (1.455), fruit breadth (0.352) and fruit length (0.107).