Study of Genetic Diversity in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The data obtained for thirteen characters namely days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of pod per plant, number of grain per pod, 100-seed weight (g), per cent infestation of pod borer, Score of wilt infestation, total protein (%), soluble protein (%) insoluble protein (%) and grain yield (Kg/ha) at three different locations viz. Dholi, Pusa (Samastipur) and Gaya for two consecutive years i.e. Rabi 2005-06 and 2006-07.High estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for yield contributing traits link number of secondary branches per plant, pods per plant and 100-seed weight indicating the preponderance of additive gene action; suggesting that selection pressure may be exercised in early generation. Grain yield (Kg/ha) was found to be associated significantly and positively with number of primary branches per plant and number of pods per plant across the six environments along with its high positive direct effects indicating the true relationship of these traits with grain yield. On the basis of genetic divergence study most divergent parents for number of primary branches per plant were IPC 2002-51, IPC 2000-33, IPC 2001-21, IPC 2003-37 and IPC 2002-71; for number of pods per plant were BG 362, BG 372, BG 256 and IPC 2003-51; for total protein were DCP 92-3, BG 2019, BG 256, IPC 2002-76 and IPC 2003-55 whereas for grain yield. IPC 2003-55, SAKI 9516, DCP 92-3 and IPC 2003-45 were observed most suitable.