Genetic Approach and Biometrical Association of Yield Attributing Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinium L.)

In this study, we assessed forty three chickpea genotypes (Cicer arietinium L. ) at Calcutta Universitys experimental farm during rabi season 2014-2015 to estimate genetic parameters and nature of relationships of seed yield and its component characters. ANOVA revealed pronounced variation among the chickpea genotypes regarding all their eight characters studied. Higher magnitude of GCV and PCV along with high heritability as well as high genetic advance recorded for the traits viz. , plant height, harvest index, pods per plant, seed yield per plant and 100 seed weight provide that these parameters were under the control of additive gene effects and effective selection could be possible for improvement of these characters. Positive and significant relationships were found with pods per plant, 100 seed weight and harvest index whereas the other traits showed positive but non-significant relationship with seed yield. Investigation regarding path analysis interpreted that all the traits, with the exception of plant height and branches per plant, had positive direct effect on yield. Pods per plant, 100 seed weight, harvest index, pod length and seeds per pod due to its highly positive both direct and indirect effect on seed yield could provide a good selection criteria for high yielding chickpea lines.