Genetic variability and interrelationships among agronomic traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

Abstract

To determine the association between genetic parameters and traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes, a field experiment was conducted with 17 chickpea genotypes using a randomized complete block design with four replications at the Ilam Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in the 2004 growing season. Genetic parameters including genetic, environmental and phenotypic variances; coefficients of variation; heritability; genetic advances; correlation coefficients and path coefficients were estimated, and cluster analysis was performed. Heritability values were greater for number of days to 50% maturity (98.43%), number of days to 50% flowering (98.19%), plant height (58.87%), number of secondary branches (45.81%), number of primary branches (42.03%) and number of seeds per plant (35.42%), indicating that these traits are controlled mainly by additive genes and that selection of such traits may be effective for improving seed yield. Number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight had a positive direct effect on seed yield. Number of seeds per plant, number of secondary branches, 100-<br />seed weight, number of pods per plant, number of primary branches and plant height also had positive and highly significant phenotypic correlations with seed yield. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight explained 96% of total yield variation. It can be concluded that seed yield in chickpea can be improved by selecting an ideotype having greater number of secondary and primary branches, as well as higher number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight.