GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION STUDIES IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) FOR SEED YIELD UNDER IRRIGATED CONDITION.

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a legume crop from the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae). Enhancing yield stands as the primary goal for crop breeders engaged in improvement programs. Understanding the relationship between yield and its component traits can aid in boosting chickpea yield. This study involved 25 genotypes cultivated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications during the Rabi season of 2023-24. The genotypes underwent evaluation to determine genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlations, and direct and indirect effects among yield and its components. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between seed yield per plant and biological yield, number of secondary branches per plant, and number of pods per plant. Path analysis indicated that biological seed yield per plant had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant, suggesting its importance as a trait for improving chickpea yield.