Developing improved black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) cultivars requires robust tools to manage trait relationships within breeding programs. This study utilized path analysis to examine associations of yield performance and nineteen morphological characters in 27 black cumin genotypes. Correlation analysis indicated that yield had a meaningfully positive association with most characters, except for leaf width, seed width, and thousand-seed weight. Path analysis identified thousand-seed weight and dry shoot weight as the primary contributors to yield. Additionally, the follicles of the plant, main stem internodes, seed width, and seed length directly influenced seed yield as first-order characters. To ensure reliable results, characters with high collinearity, like the follicles of plant, seed length, and seed width, were excluded from the first-order character group. Assessment of seed yield components highlighted the path seeds of follicle → stem diameter → follicles of plant → dry shoot weight as the most significant and positively correlated pathway influencing seed yield in black cumin. Therefore, efforts to enhance the seeds of follicles, stem diameter, follicles of plant, and dry shoot weight could significantly improve yield performance. The characters identified as influencing seed yield suggest that, while maintaining other characters constantly, improving these specific characteristics will enhance the yield of black cumin, so the characters should be prioritized in future genetic improvement programs.
