Abstract

Tewodros Lulseged*, Firew Mekbib and Kebebew Assefa

ABSTRACT

Thirty-three accessions and three released varieties of black cumin genotypes were field evaluated at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center during 2015 main season using 6x6 simple lattice Design. The objectives were to assess the genetic variability, correlation coefficients of yield and its component traits into direct and indirect effects through path analysis. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among accessions for most of the traits, Partitioning the total variation revealed that, the genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) was high for seed yield per plot. On the other hand, phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) was high for seed yield per plot and seed yield per plant. High broad sense heritability was not associated with high genetic advance for all characters under consideration. Although, moderate heritability and high genetic advance was obtained for flower duration and seed yield per plot. The phenotypic correlation was positive and significant for seed yield per plant with plant height, biomass per plot, seed yield per plot, days to maturity and harvest index. The genotypic correlation was positive and significant for yield per plant with days to maturity, plant height, biomass per plot, thousand seeds weight, and harvest index. Path coefficient analysis indicated that biomass per plot, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of locules, harvest index, and seed yield per plant revealed positive direct effect on seed yield. In contrast, days to first flowering, flower duration and thousand seeds weight had negative direct effects on seed yield. Thus, there is enormous opportunity to use the existing accessions for direct selection as well as using distant parents for crossing purposes to improve specific traits.