Character Association, Path Analysis and Divergence Studies in Different Genotypes of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

This investigation assessed character association, path relationships, and genetic divergence among twenty-five garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes to identify yield-related traits and divergent parental groups. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations showed that pod yield per plant was significantly and positively associated with seed index, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and shelling percentage, but was significantly and negatively associated with the number of primary branches and ascorbic acid content. Path coefficient analysis indicated that days to fifty per cent flowering, seed index, and number of seeds per pod had the greatest positive direct effects on pod yield at the phenotypic level. At the genotypic level, number of pods per plant, number of leaves at the first-flowering stage, and number of pickings were the principal positive direct contributors. Mahalanobis D² analysis grouped the genotypes into three clusters. Cluster I contained twenty-one genotypes, while clusters II and III contained two genotypes each. The greatest inter-cluster distance occurred between clusters II and III (D² = 5071.19), indicating wide divergence between these groups. Ascorbic acid content contributed most to total genetic divergence (56.28%), followed by pod yield per hectare (9.16%) and total soluble solids (8.88%). Seed index, number of pods per plant, and number of seeds per pod may therefore be useful selection criteria, while crosses between genotypes from clusters II and III may support pod-yield improvement and broadening of the genetic base.