Using path analysis to determine lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) seed yield and its components

A field experiment using 16 lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars was carried out in 2001 and 2002 at the Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatilrk University, Erzurum, Turkey. The relationships between seed yield components (seed yield per unit area, number of seeds per pod, number of seeds per inflorescence, number of pods per inflorescence, plant height, 1000-seed weight, number of inflorescences per unit area) were determined by path-coefficient analysis. Amongst the characteristics examined, seed yield per unit area was significantly positively correlated with the number of seeds per inflorescence (R = 0.593*), number of pods per inflorescence (R = 0.602*), and seed weight per inflorescence (R = 0.685**). Number of seeds per inflorescence had a higher indirect effect on seed yield via number of pods per inflorescence and seed weight per inflorescence. Plant height had a higher positive indirect effect on seed yield via number of seeds per inflorescence and number of inflorescences per unit area. Highly significant negative relationships were determined between germination percentage and seed yield per unit area (R = -0.667**), and 1000-seed weight (R = -0.582*). Conversely, positive relationships were observed between germination percentage and number of inflorescences per unit area (R = 0.803**) and plant height (R = 0.670**). Positive direct effect of seed yield inflorescences, seed yield unit area, and number of seeds per inflorescences suggested that these yield components may be a good selection criteria to improve seed yield of lucerne cultivars.