Improvement of Yields in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum. L): Genetic Study of Heterosis in Hybrids Derived from Desi x Kabuli and Kabuli x Kabuli Crosses

To improve yield and agro morphological characters and study the heterosis expressed in Desi x Kabuli and Kabuli x Kabuli crosses in chickpea, four crosses between exotic cultivars of Desi and Kabuli type and two Tunisian kabuli varieties have been realized in field. The heterosis in yield and its components of F1 hybrids and F2 was superior to the best and mean parent. Over dominance was notable in the agronomic and morphologic traits in F1 and F2 and vigor was noted in grain yield, biological yield, number of primary and in secondary branches. This study demonstrates that Chickpea hybridization in controlled conditions is successful (despite chickpea is autogamous species) and the results are showing high abilities for yield improvement for chickpea. The heterosis was evaluated and was highest in crosses involving parents more genetically dissimilar as for Desi x Kabuli progenies that expressed more heterosis in ND1 and B1D2 than for Kabuli x Kabuli in NK1 and B1K2. The results obtained suggested besides that the genes controlling yield are under additive and dominant inheritance. This work allows the selection of Chickpea high yielding genotypes at early generation (in F1 and F2) of this breeding program and compares the heterosis and the improvements obtained in Desi x Kabuli and Kabuli x Kabuli crosses.