Genetic diversity analysis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions for quality and yield attributing traits

Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal during rabi 2016–17 under both rainfed and irrigated conditions individually. The genotypes were grown in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications each. Genetic diversity study grouped 30 chickpea genotypes into five different clusters under both the tested environments. 100 seed weight followed by cooking time for soaked seeds contributed maximum towards diversity under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions. Inter cluster average D² values stretched between 9.32 and 21.96 under rain fed condition, while it was comparatively lower and varied from 3.77 to 15.76 under irrigated condition. Cluster II under rainfed and cluster V under irrigated were identified to be the most divergent clusters. Under irrigated, genotype RVSSG-37 from cluster II, NBeG-840, CSJK-25, CSJK-24, MNK-1, NBeG-459 from cluster III, genotype NBeG-833 from cluster IV, KAK-2, Vihar, ICCV-15308 from cluster V and under irrigated condition, the genotype NBeG 831 of cluster II, RVSSG-37, NBeG-459, CSJK-25, NBeG-840, PKV-4 from cluster III, KAK-2 from cluster IV and Vihar from cluster V were identified to be superior and were from genetically divergent clusters so could be used in hybridization programme to produce transgressive segregants.