Bhagavan, S.Nair, B.P.2014-08-202014-08-201989J.Plantn.Crops 1989 Suppl. v-16 p-389-394http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/4877Multiple regression and path analysis was attempted to study the causal relationship of the yield and ten vigour variables for the local South Kanara variety of arecanut. Palm height, internodal distance at permanent mark and maximum length of leaf sheath showed high correlations and high direct effects, whereas the girth at permanent mark had a high negative direct effect, but its positive correlation with yield was largely due to highly positive indirect effect via palm height, thereby indicating the importance of these four vigour variables in identifying the actual potential elite areca palms. A vigour index is formulated by regressing these four selected variables on the yield and a selection criterion is proposed to select elite areca palms using yield and vigour index.enArticle