Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis for quantitative traits in chickpea genotypes

Fifty three germplasm of chickpea were undertaken to determine relationships among yield and some yield components using direct (variability, heritability, and genetic advance) and indirect selection parameters (correlation and path coefficient analysis). The present investigation was carried out at the Agriculture Research Farm of Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during the rabi season of 2011–12. Significant genetic variations were observed among the genotypes for days to flower, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches plant¹, number of pods plant¹, 100-seed weight and seed yield plant¹. Correlation studies revealed that seed yield was positively and significantly correlated with number of primary branches, number of secondary branches and number of pods plant¹. The path coefficient analysis based on seed yield, as a dependent variable, showed that pods plant¹ had the greatest direct effect on seed yield (0.81) followed by number of secondary branches. Both correlation and path analysis indicated that pods plant¹ and number of secondary branches were the major direct contributors to seed yield.