Feasibility of crossing without emasculation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Feasibility of crossing without emasculation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was studied during rabi 2006–07 at Kanpur using F₁ seeds developedby crossing between parents KBK-3 (whiteflowered) and KPG-142-1(blueflowered). In F₁ generation out of 64 plants, 10 plants with white flowers and 54 plants with blue flowers were observed indicating thatsome degree of self pollination occurred. Hence, this technique could be used in only those hybridization programmes where male parent has a dominant gene.