22 Correlation and path analysis of Brassica napus genotypes for yield related traits Hira Tariq * , Sikander Khan Tanveer, Maqsood Qamar, Rana Arsalan Javaid, Samman Gul Vaseer, Hafiz Muhammad Jhanzab, Muhammad Jalal Hassan, Humaira Iqbal Crop Science Institute, National Agriculture Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan *Corresponding author: hirasheikh968@gmail.com Abstract: The present study was conducted in the research area of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Fifteen accessions of Brassica napus DGL, Cyclone, Punjab Sarsoon, Zn-R-1, Shiralee, Zn-M-5, Zn-M-6, Zn-M-9, Chakwal Sarsoon, Napus-2, Zn-21, AH-Rooh, Zn-R-8, Dunkled and Rainbow were collected from the Oilseed Research Programmed of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The seeds of the germplasm were sown in field by maintaining row to row and plant to plant distance 75 and 25 cm, respectively. Data of randomly selected 10 plants of each replication was recorded. The analysis of variance was performed that showed that all accessions were significantly differ from each other for all the yield parameters (both quantitative and qualitative parameters). The traits included plant height, primary branches, secondary branches, number of seeds in a silique, seed yield of a plant, 1000 seed weight, oil contents, protein contents, oleic acid contents, linolenic acid and erucic acid contents. Correlation and Path analysis were performed. Some characters showed positive correlation and some characters showed negative correlation. The results reflected that correlation coefficient yield was positively and significantly correlated with seeds in a silique and protein contents. Whereas yield was negatively correlated with weight of 1000 seeds, oleic acid contents, linolenic acid and erucic acid contents. On the other hand, path analysis revealed the direct and indirect effects between yield and yield parameters. Plant height, primary and secondary branches, silique of a plant, seeds of a silique, oil contents and protein contents had direct and positive effects on yield while weight of 1000 seeds, oleic acid, linolenic acid and erucic acid proportion exhibited direct and negative effects on yield of seeds. [Tariq H, Tanveer SK, Qamar M, Javaid RA, Vaseer SG, Jhanzab HM, Hassan MJ, Iqbal H. Correlation and path analysis of Brassica napus genotypes for yield related traits. Life Sci J 2020;17(8):22-34]. ISSN: 1097-8135 (Print) / ISSN: 2372-613X (Online). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 5. doi:10.7537/marslsj170820.05 . Keywords: Brassica napus, yield, oilseed 1. Introduction Edible oil is essential need and important source of energy for our body. Because it has an important role for the growth and development of our body. Oilseed crops contributes major part for supplying edible oil. The following crops have main contribution in Pakistan, such as cotton, sunflower, canola, and rapeseed/mustard. In 2015-2016, edible oil was available about 3.726 million tons and only 0.462 million tons was local oil production. Edible oil import was spent Rs.284.546 billion. So, the requirement of edible oil in the country was fulfilled by the import of about 3.264 million tons. In 2016-17, the import was reduced by 4 percent (1.98 million tons) by spending Rs.152.514 billion. It was provisionally estimated that edible oil was available about 2.426 million tons from all sources. (Anonymous, 2016-2017). Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), is cultivated for seeds. It has 35-45 % oil which is basically used for edible purpose. Its seeds are used for the extraction of oil by different methods. Plant oils attain the higher value in agricultural commodities. (Naheed et al., 2017). It is listed as second number in oil extraction after cotton in Pakistan. The production of 0.466 million tons of oil was taken by growing rapeseed on an area of 0.193 million acres. (Anonymous, 2016-2017). While the requirement of oil is not compensated by the production. There are multiple causes of lower edible oil production i.e. cultivation on marginal lands, deficiency of agricultural inputs and their improper utilization, reduction of short duration varieties and major crops competition. The main reason for less production is that the scientist is paying less attention toward the improvement of genetics of oilseed crops. The enhancing growth of papulation and per capita consumption are related with increasing demand of edible oil. It is creating worse situation by establishing more difference between production and utilization. Therefore, it compels to make the oil production more in magnitude by different measurements (Shah et al.,