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

The experiment was conducted to estimate genetic variability and correlation for yield and yield attributing characters in chickpea. Highest GCV and PCV were recorded for effective pods per plant, grain yield per plant and pods per plant. High heritability recorded by number of 50% flowering and seed index. Genetic advance was registered for plant height, number of days to 50% flowering and number of effective pods per plant. High genetic advance ass percent of mean recorded for number of primary branches per plant, harvest index and number of pods per plant. Seed yield per plant exhibited significant and positive correlation both at genotypic and phenotypic level with plant height, number of pods per plant, effective pods per plant, biological yield and harvest index. Genetic advance, heritability and correlation coefficient analysis indicated that these traits may be used for the selection of high grain yielding chickpea genotypes to improve yield of chickpea.