Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for yield and its components traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Chickpea is a crucial annual crop widely cultivated in semi-arid tropics. It is one of the most important pulse crops in India. Variability may be a greater need for initiating a breeding program for yield and yield contributing traits. A total of 30 lines, along with a check, were evaluated in Randomized Block Design (RBD) during Rabi 2020-21. Highest seed yield per plant was recorded by PHULE 4-5. All the traits showed significant variation among the lines. Number of seeds per plant, seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant showed high Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) and Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV), whereas seed index, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, showed moderate GCV and PCV. Traits exhibiting high heritability coupled with genetic advance as percent of mean suggest that the traits are governed by additive gene action, equal contribution of additive and non-additive gene action respectively. Genotypic correlation coefficient analysis revealed that seed yield per plant showed highly significant and positive association with harvest index (0.930**). Phenotypic correlation coefficient analysis revealed that seed yield per plant showed significant and positive association with number of pods per plant (0.493**), biological yield (0.457**), seed index (0.425**) and harvest index (0.362**). The path analysis results showed that positive and direct on grain yield was exhibited by harvest index, days to maturity, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, biological yield per plant, seed index, days to 50% pod setting and seed index.