Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 549-557 549 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.609.066 Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Genotypes B. Babu Rao 1* , D.V. Swami 1 , P. Ashok 1 , B. Kalyana Babu 3 , D. Ramajayam 4 and K. Sasikala 2 1 Department of Horticulture, 2 Department of Agronomy, Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari, A.P – 534101, India 3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, A.P – 534450, India 4 ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirapally, T.N – 620102, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a perennial shrub, commonly known as tapioca, mandioca, manioc and yuca in different parts of the world. It belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, sub family Crotonoidea and tribe Manihotae (Alves, 2002). The genus Manihot reported to have about 100 species of which Manihot esculenta is the only commercially cultivated species. It is native to North - Eastern Brazil. It is mainly cultivated for its starchy tubers and grown as staple food and animal feed in tropical and sub-tropical Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Asia major pockets of cassava production at present are Indonesia, Thailand, India, China, Philippines and Vietnam. The crop was introduced into India from Brazil by the Portuguese when they landed in the Malabar region, presently part of Kerala state during the 17 th century. India acquires significance in the global cassava scenario due to its highest productivity in the world (35.7 t ha -1 ). It is being cultivated in an area of 2.29 lakh hectares in India, with a production of 81.4 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 9 (2017) pp. 549-557 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com An experiment was conducted at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Tuber crops, Horticultural Research Station, Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh during the period 2015 to 2016 to investigate the interrelationship of yield related characters and extent of their contribution to tuber yield in cassava. Correlation Analysis revealed that tuber yield (t ha -1 ) had significant and positive correlation with total leaf area, plant dry matter content, tuber dry matter content, number of leaves per plant, plant height, stem diameter, number of storage roots per plant, number of commercial roots per plant, tuber length, tuber diameter and harvest index at both phenotypic and genotypic levels, indicating the importance of these traits in selection for yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that stem diameter and tuber diameter exerted a high positive direct effect on tuber yield (t ha -1 ). The high direct effect of these traits appeared to be the main factors for their strong association with tuber yield per hectare. Hence, direct selection for these traits should be effective indicating the effectiveness of direct selection. Keywords Cassava, Correlation, Path coefficient analysis, Direct effects, Indirect effects, Tuber yield. Accepted: 04 July 2017 Available Online: 10 September 2017 Article Info