Correlation and path coefficient analysis of yield and yield components in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm in the highlands of Bale, Ethiopia

Genetic diversity is essential for genetic improvement of given crops. If the information on genetic diversity is not enough to utilize, the available variability genetic diversity study should be crucial. Accordingly, twelve lentil germplasms were evaluated at two locations, Sinana and Agarfa, South eastern Ethiopia in the 2012/13 cropping season to obtain information on genetic diversity and variability in the Ethiopian lentil germplasm. At Sinana, the genotypic correlation revealed that number of pod per plant had positive and highly significant association with seed yield, whereas hundred seed weight, days to maturity, number of seeds/plant and plant height had positive but non-significant association with seed yield per plot. However, negative association was observed for stand percentage. At Agarfa, positive and highly significant association was observed between number of pods/plant and seed yield, whereas plant height and number of seeds/pod had negative and highly significant association with seed yield at the genotypic level. The genotypic path analysis at Sinana showed that number of pods/plant and seeds/pod had very high and positive direct effect on seed yield, whereas days to maturity and plant height had negative direct effect on seed yield. At Agarfa, positive direct effect on seed yield was observed in days to maturity and stand percentage; whereas negative direct effect on seed yield was observed in plant height and hundred seed weight at genotypic level.   Key words: Genetic diversity, correlation, direct and indirect effect.