Genetic variability and character association for seed yield in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to estimate the genetic variability and character association existing among 18 chickpea genotypes including one local check which were evaluated during Rabi 2016-17 under randomized block design having three replications. The data was recorded for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, days to maturity, biological yield per plant, harvest index, seed-index and seed yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied. Number of pods per plant followed by days to maturity and seed-index exhibited high estimates of heritability (bs) as well as genetic advance. Seed-index and number of pods per plant exhibited high estimates of genetic advance expressed as percent of mean. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that seed yield per plant exhibited significant and positive correlation both at genotypic and phenotypic level with biological yield per plant, harvest-index and only at genotypic level with number of pods per plant. Hence, these characters may serve as effective selection criterion for yield improvement in chickpea.