Spectrum of genetic variation in different selection schemes of desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

An experiment was conducted to study the spectrum of genetic variation for seed yield per plant and its component traits in the four selection procedures [PS(EF), PS(HY), SSD and RBP] each with 20 progenies of GJG 0315 x ICCV 96029 cross in F5 generation in Desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic differences for all the characters with a wide range of variation. Out of the total 6 cases studied in F5, PS(EF) in 2 cases; SSD in 3 cases and PS(HY) in 1 cases were better for depicting the widest phenotypic range and maximum coefficient of variation irrespective of characters. Moderate to high heritability and genotypic co-efficients of variation coupled with high expected Genetic Advance as per cent of mean was observed for number of branches per plant by PS(HY) and RBP and for 100-seed weight in PS(EF), PS(HY) and SSD of this cross which indicated the predominant role of additive gene action in the expression of these traits in respective breeding schemes.