Estimation of Genetic Variability and Character Association for Yield Characters in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present study entitled “Estimation of genetic variability and character association for yield characters in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)” was designed to assess the extent of variability, genetic advance, heritability and correlation of different traits of 22 chickpea genotypes using randomized block design with three replications. The observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants from each treatment and replication for 13 different quantitative traits. Based on the mean performance, high seed yield per plant were identified for the genotype ICC-13348, GNG-469 and IPC-9-50. High estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for number of seeds per plant, biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant, Seed Index, number of pods per plant. Genetic parameters revealed that heritability and genetic advance as % mean values are high were recorded for biological yield per plant, Number of seeds per plant, seed index, Number of pods per plant. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that seed yield per plant exhibited positive and significant association with biological yield, seed index and harvest index at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis revealed that characters seed index, biological yield and harvest index have positive direct effect on seed yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Hence, these traits should be prelimin ary included in selection criteria for crop improvement programme in chickpea.