Seed Coat Thickness in Chickpea: Variation and Inheritance in a Desi × Kabuli Cross

Large variation was observed for seed coat thickness among 40 cultivars of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). It was even greater between the two main types, desi and kabuli. The ranges did not overlap for the two types studied. The appearance of only 3% individuals of parental types and a number of nonparental types in a cross between the two types indicates that several genes govern this trait. The genes for thick seed coat appear to be partially dominant (DD+0.5) over those for thin seed coat. Desi type segregants with relatively thinner seed coat were obtained, indicating that desi cultivars with thin seed coat could be developed.