Heterosis studies using diallel analysis for yield and its component traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The experiment consisting twenty one hybrids of chickpea along with their seven parental lines, conducted at Post Graduate Institute Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, to assess the extent of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis over standard check i.e. Phule Vikram for yield and its components. Heterosis in grain yield per plant was reflected through heterosis in number of fruiting branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight. The hybrid GNG-2207 X Digvijay (140.56) expressed the highest heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant followed by JG-62 x Digvijay (36.17) and JG-62 x JAKI-9218 (36.14). Similarly, Phule Vikram x Digvijay cross combination only gave heterosis over standard check variety for grain yield per plant. Based on per se performance, heterosis, the cross combinations Phule Vikram x Digvijay, Digvijay x WR-315, GNG-2207 x Digvijay and Phule Vikram x JAKI-9218 were found promising for their utilization in chickpea improvement.