Studies on genetic variability and heritability in chickpea (Cicer arientum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to estimate the genetic variability and character association existing among 60 chickpea genotypes including two checks which were evaluated during Rabi 2017-18 under randomized block design having two replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied. Maximum heritability was observed for all the studied characters except plant spread. The traits viz; 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant, lower first pod from found level, number of pods per plant, number of primary branches per plant and number of secondary branches per plant showed high estimates of broad sense heritability accompanied by high genetic advance as per cent of mean indicating that these characters governed by additive gene action. However, the characters like a number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight, number of primary branches per plant and number of secondary branches per plant would be effective for increasing seed yield in chickpea.