Genetic Analysis for Quantitative Characters of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The aim of present study was to estimate the genetic variability, genetic advance and correlation between yield and yield contributing traits along with direct and indirect effect of yield component on yield through path analysis from data collected on 20 chickpea genotypes. Seed index, seed yield per plant, harvest index, number of seeds per plant showed high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation. Seed index, days to 50% pod setting, plant height, days to 50% flowering, seed yield per plant, days to maturity expressed high heritability. Whereas Harvest index showed high genetic advance. Seed index, seed yield per plant, harvest index, number of seeds per pod and plant height expressed high genetic advance as percent of mean. Seed yield per plant significantly positive correlated with harvest index and number of secondary branches per plant at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Harvest index, biological yield, days to 50% pod initiation showed high positive direct effect with seed yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Thus, these traits are identified as the efficient and potential for the improvement of chickpea productivity in the present experimental materials.