Variability, heritability and genetic advance for quantitative traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. var. microsperma)

Abstract

Study was carried out for genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of twelve characters in 60 genotypes. The ANOVA revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters indicating a presence of considerable amount of genetic variability.The phenotypic variance (σ2p) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was slightly higher than the genotypic variance (σ2g) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. NG-24 (62.66 days) was the earliestgenotype to flower and genotypes, NGD-1663 (21.86g) recorded the highest seed yield/plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for number of secondary branches/plant, height at first pod, seed yield/plant and 100-seed weight indicating that these characters are controlled by additive gene effect and phenotypic selection of these characters would be effective for further breeding purpose.