Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012
1 Present address: ICRISAT, 1-11-256, Begumpet, Hyderabad (A. P.)
Online published on 25 January, 2012.
The performance of 21 F1 hybrids involving seven chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties of diverse origin was studied to investigate mid-parent and better parent heteroses for seed yield and five yield contributing characters. Three crosses viz. P 813 × P 1821, P 813 × ICP 71 and P 821 × ICP 71 gave significantly higher yield than their respective better parents. Also, these three crosses showed good hybrid vigour for number of pods per plant. It is concluded that there is good possibility of increasing seed yield by exploiting some of the yield components particularly number of branches and pods per plant. For 100-seed weight majority of crosses showed negative heterosis. The data indicated that geographical diversity may not always confer genetic diversity leading to increased hybrid vigour.
