Different traits of economic importance for oat are correlated to each other in magnitude and varied sense. Such fact implies that the selection on a character can provide changes in the other, whose result can be or not interesting. Thus, the quantification of direct and indirect selection effects of one or several traits on others are of fundamental importance to guide improvement programs, representing the objective of this paper. 58 oat genotypes were evaluated, in Pelotas, RS, Brazil, in random block design with three replicates, on which phenotypic evaluations were conducted. These data were used to determine the simple correlation coefficients among variables. Starting from these coefficients, the path analysis procedure was applied on grain yield trait. In agreement with the obtained results, no analyzed variable presented direct effect on the grain yield similar to the phenotypic correlations coefficient, showing the existence of another traits influencing both in the magnitude and in the sense of the correlation, preventinng isolated selection on grain yield. Panicle weight showed the highest positive correlation with grain yield. However, stature and head date showed lower correlation coefficients, what makes difficult the indirect selection for grain yields. Grain number and grain weight, although positive and contributing to determine panicle weight, showed intermediary correlation with grain yield. Thus, to consider the effects of panicle weight, grain number and grain weight seems to be the best strategy for indirect selection of grain yield in oat.
Avena sativa; indirect selection; path analysis; yield components
