Correlations and path analysis of common bean grain yield and its primary components

The objective of this study was to estimate the correlation coefficients (genotypic, phenotypic and environmental) and carry out path analysis between grain yield in kg.ha-1 (basic variable) and its primary components (explicative variables). The experiments, in randomized complete blocks with three replications, were carried out in the counties of Dourados-MS and Aquidauana-MS in the 2000/2001 growing season. Sixteen common bean genotypes were assessed including advanced lines and commercial varieties. Yield per plant and number of pods were explicative variables included in the study that presented the best combinations of path coefficient and correlation, both positive and of high magnitude, and both were superior to that of the variable number of seeds per pod. The explicative variable weight of 100 seeds correlated negatively with grain yield, although its path coefficient was positive, thus suggesting that it should be considered in breeding studies to increase grain yield.