Path Analysis for Yield and Related Traits in Oats

This study was conducted to analyze the correlation among grain yield, yield components, duration of vegetative and grain filling periods in twelve oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, from 2001 to 2003. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. The correlation coefficients among the grain yield/m2, fertile tiller/m2, grain number/panicle and the duration of grain filling period were positive and significant. Among yield components, the number of panicle/m2 and the number of grain/panicle had the largest direct effects on grain yield (0.68 and 0.30, respectively). Furthermore, the duration of the grain filling period had the highest direct effect on the number of grain/panicle and the grain weight (0.82 and 0.80, respectively), which were greater than its correlations with the number of grain per panicle (0.42) and 1000-grain weight (0.35). However, its negative indirect effects through other traits reduced the correlation coefficients. The results of path analysis indicated that the number of panicle/m2 and the number of grain/panicle had the largest direct effects on the grain yield. Considering the direct effects of grain filling duration on the number of grain/panicle and the 1000-grain weight, and also the fact that most of the dry matter in oat is produced in this period, it seems plausible to use these traits as a selection criterion in breeding programs for higher yields of cultivars of oat.