Deciphering Trait Association and their Effect on Yield, Yield Attributing and Quality Traits in Barnyard Millet [Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link]

Barnyard millet is viewed as a climate-resilient crop comprising high nutrient content and antioxidant properties therefore, it considered as a functional food crop. Results revealed that grain yield exhibited high positive correlation with panicle weight implying attention that this trait will help in improving yield in barnyard millet. Panicle weight showed highly significant positive correlation with flag leaf width, flag leaf area, panicle length and test weight revealing that selection for any one of these traits will contribute in improvement of all the other major component trait and overall yield. Peduncle length alone expressed negative significant correlation with grain yield. The cause and effect results revealed that test weight, days to 50% flowering, number of productive tillers, panicle weight, panicle length and flag leaf area had positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. It can be concluded that panicle weight is the most important component character in barnyard millet because of its high significant positive association with grain yield, its high direct effect on grain yield and being the most used path by the other component traits contributing positively towards grain yield.