Genotypic Variability, Heritability And Correlation Of Yield And Its Components Under Different Planting Conditions In An Elite Genotypes Of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Twenty two elite genotypes of chickpea were evaluated during 2014-16 to study the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and the correlation of seed yield and its contributing characters with respect to high temperature tolerance under different planting conditions. A high degree of significant variation was observed for all the characters in all planting conditions and over the years under study. Generally, there was an increase in phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV and PCV) under late and very late planting compared to normal planting condition for most of traits except days to maturity, plant height and plant biomass, which entail that when selecting for improving chickpea, the target environment should be taken in consideration. Further, plant biomass, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant showed high values of GCV and PCV coupled with high heritability and genetic advance in all environments and over the years. In addition, plant biomass, number of pods per plant, number of effective pods per plant, harvest index and 100 seed weight were positively correlated with seed yield in all environments. Therefore, emphasis should be given to these characters for the improvement of the seed yield of chickpea in a breeding program for heat tolerance. On overall basis, it was noticed from the present study that the genotypes ICCV 10 and JG 14 are found promising for earliness, high biomass, high harvest index and seed yield from favorable and unfavorable environments suggesting that theses genotypes are heat tolerant with best suited for all planting conditions and can be utilized in various breeding programmes.