Comparison of Single Seed Descent, Mass Selection and Random Bulk Methods in Chickpea*

Six hybrid populations (Hybrids 1 to 6) of chickpea were advanced from F2 to F4 through single seed descent (SSD) mass selection (MS) and random bulk (RB) methods and were evaluated in F, and F4 for grain yield and some of its components. Breeding methods were compared for their relative efficiency in yielding higher means and variances in F2 and F4. in all populations, except in Hybrid 5, MS yielded higher means in F3 and F4 for grain yield and its components than RB and/or SSD. Comparison of means of SSD and RB populations revealed that in F3 and F4 these methods were equal in performance in a majority of cases in Hybrids 1 to 4 and 6. Estimates of genetic variances for grain yield and some of its components in F4 of Hybrids 1, 3, 4 and 6 obtained by MS, were higher than one or both the other methods. However, for Hybrids 2 and 5, MS and RB, respectively maintained the highest variances for many of the characters in F3 and F4. Genetic variances observed in SSD and RB populations in both the generations did not differ greatly in a majority of characters. It is concluded that MS excels RB and SSD in chickpea breeding- of the RB and SSD methods, though both were equal in performance, the latter may be preferred in chickpea because of saving in time, space and labour.