Character association and path analysis in thirty five genotypicaly diverse indigenous genotypes of brinjal were studied at experimental farm of Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar during year 2009-2010 for eight important characters. The phenotypic and genotypic association of fruit yield was significantly positive with number of fruits/plant, fruit weight and fruit width, whereas plant height, plant spread, number of primary branches and fruit length was non-significantly negatively associated. The genotypic path coefficient revealed that highest positive direct effect (0.700) on fruit yield followed by number of fruits/plant (0.653), plant spread (0.053), fruit width (0.052), fruit length (0.030), whereas plant height (-0.153) showed negative direct effects on fruit yield/plant (kg). Overall the path analysis confined that direct effect of fruit weight, number of fruits/plant, plant spread, fruit width, fruit length and number of primary branches, whereas indirect effect of plant height should be considered simultaneously for amenability in fruit yield of brinjal.
