Variability and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield Components in ‘Oblačinska’ Sour Cherry Sub-Clones

Abstract

The present paper examines variability of initial fruit set, final fruit set, number of flower buds/cm ²limb cross-sectional area, number of flowers/cm ²limb cross-sectional area, number of flowers per bud, fruit weight and yield in 10 selected sub-clones of ‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry ( Prunus cerasusL.). Correlation and path coefficient analysis indicated both direct and indirect effects of yield components on yield. Sub-clones of ‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry differed significantly in all characteristics studied. Genetic variance was found to be a dominant component of yield variability, whereas year had the greatest effect on variability of the majority of yield components, except for number of flower buds/cm ²limb cross-sectional area. Correlation analysis showed that only fruit weight was correlated significantly with yield. However, apart from fruit weight, initial fruit set and the number of flowers per bud were isolated by path analysis as other important yield components.