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The present study was carried out to estimate genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients to create a path for the improvement in yield of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L). For this purpose nine linseed accessions (LS-1, LS- 15, LS-16, LS-20, LS-27, LS-29, LS-35, LS-40, LS-48) and a check variety Chandani were tested at Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PMAS, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan during 2011-12. The experiment was laid out in RCBD. Genotypic correlation estimates showed that seed yield of a plant is positively affected by primary branches, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds in each capsule, thousand seed weight and oil content while days to flower initiation, number of days to complete flowering and number of days to physiological maturity has a negative impact on seed yield of plant. Phenotypic correlation estimate results showed the similar findings except the thousand seed weight which has a significantly positive effect on seed yield. Estimates of the genotypic correlation coefficients were further used to determine the path coefficient of analysis by partitioning the correlation into indirect and direct effects. Path coefficient analysis depicted that the number of capsules per plant (0.432), oil content (0.194%), number of primary branches of each plant (0.196), thousand seed weight (0.100 g) and number of seeds in each capsule (0.116) had a direct influence on seed yield in positive direction. This predicted that while designing a breeding strategy for the improvement of linseed a trait should be kept in mind to enhance seed yield in linseed. Therefore focusing on these traits, would improve breeding efficiency of linseed in the future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was conducted on 9 advanced linseed genotypes (LS-9, LS-10, LS-21, LS-22, LS-23, LS-37, LS-38, LS-39, LS-42 (Linum usitatissimum L.) and a check variety Chandni for genetic evaluation at NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan under Oilseeds Research Programme. These genotypes were sown in RCBD with three replications during rabi 2011-12 at research area. At maturity stage data of ten different yield and its related parameters were recorded. Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance indicated that genotypic mean squares were highly significant for all the traits. Phenotypic variance was greater than genotypic variance that indicates influence of environment on the traits under study. Heritability estimate values ranged from 0.51% for oil content to 0.99% for days to flower initiation. Heritability estimates for different characters were found maximum (0.99) for days to flower initiation followed by days to maturity (0.96), 1000 seed weight (0.96), seed yield/plot (0.94) and days to flower completion (0.92). High heritability estimates indicated that improvement could be made through selection. Maximum relative expected genetic advance was recorded for seed yield/plot (22.75%) followed by number of primary branches/plant (20.10%). Genetic advance as percent of mean was calculated highest (22.75) for seed yield/plot followed by number of primary branches/plant (20.10) and number of capsules/plant (17.39). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]