Author(s):
An experiment was conducted to study the interrelationship of yield related characters and extent of their contribution to cassava fresh storage root yield using correlation and path coefficient analysis in the Southwest Ethiopia during the 2019–2021 cropping season. The design of the experiment was a simple lattice with two replications using sixty four cassava accessions. Genotypic correlation analysis showed that fresh storage root yield (t ha-1) observed significant and highly significant positive correlation with root diameter (r=0.65**), root length (r=0.31*), stem diameter (r=0.63**), root number per plant (r=0.54**), petiole length (r=0.47**), plant height (r=0.34**), weight fresh aboveground biomass per plot (r=0.56**) and harvest index (r=0.57**). Only magnitude difference Similarly result were found phenotypic correlation these character with fresh storage root yield (t ha-1), Hence, improvement in fresh storage root yield per hectare is possible by considering these characters as criteria in selection scheme. Path coefficient analysis revealed that weight fresh above ground biomass per plot (0.770) the highest and positive direct effect was exerted on fresh storage root yield per hectare, followed by harvest index per plot (0.763), root diameter (0.121) and petiole length (0.120). These character that exerted positive direct effect and strong positive correlation coefficient with fresh storage root yield were known to influences cassava fresh storage root yield in the favorable direction and needs much attention during the process of selection cases in point are weight of above ground biomass per plot, harvest index per plot, root diameter and petiole length.
