Development of newly rye cultivars needs efficient tools to manage trait correlation in a breeding program which depends on the direction of the association between yield and its components. In this study, 64 rye genotypes obtained from Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben, Germany (IPK) were evaluated under rainfed conditions in 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Trials were conducted in a simple lattice design and path analysis used to determine the interrelationships among seed yield and the other 17 yield components and morphological traits. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed seed yield was positively correlated with spike weight, weight of seeds per spike, seed number per spike and number of spike per area across 2 years. The number of spike per area and weight of seeds per spike traits as first-order variables involved in the research of observed variation of seed yield in both years. Although, second-order and third-order variables in both years had some differences but four traits (spike length, spike weight, seed number per spike and thousand seed weight) were similar in years 2016 and 2017. All direct effects were significant, as indicated by bootstrap analysis. For breeders should focus on increasing spike weight and seed number per spike following to spike length and thousand-seed weight for increasing seed yield potential of rye. Our results will allow plant breeders to more efficiently increase rye seed yield in breeding programs.
