STUDIES ON CORRELATIONS AND PATH COEFFICIENT ANALYSIS FOR NINE PAIRS OF CHARACTERS IN Populus deltoides AT NURSERY LEVEL

Identification and selection of genotypes, in poplar (Populus deltoides L.) at nursery level is necessary to produce good quality “Entire Transplants” (ETPs), to transplant in the field for new plantation. Findings from this study can be used to determine prevalence and relationship among the variables (plant traits). It will help in decision- making to improve the quality and selection of desired poplar genotypes. As the genotypic correlation provides the association for the heritable part only, the phenotypic and environmental correlations along with path coefficient analysis were also computed to assess the suitability of poplar clones for better selection on the new alluvial soils in agro-climatic zone of West Bengal. Stem cuttings of 40 clones collected from Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun were planted to produce ETPs in the new alluvial soils. Significant correlations were observed between the characters selected for the study. It was evident from path coefficient analysis that different characters were interrelated, correlated and had direct and indirect effects over plant height. So, the present study may enhance the possibility of selection various traits of importance and growing genotypes of preferred plant height.