Genetic Diversity and Stability in Chickpea

Sixty six genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were grown over nine microenvironments created by different combinations of sowing dates, spacing and fertilizer doses over 3 years. Pooled data of nine characters over environments were analysed for D₂ statistic. Clusters of genotypes were formed on the basis of D₂ estimates. Joint regression analysis revealed highly significant differences due to genotypes, environments, and genotype × environment interaction for all characters. Stability of individual genotypes was worked out on the basis of two stability parameters–regression coefficient (bi) and deviation from- regression (S²di). Further, 14 genotypes were sorted out with high grain yield per plant (higher than grand mean over environments) and stable for grain yield and for other yield contributing characters. On the basis of intra- and intercluster distances, crossing among these selected genotypes was suggested to recombine the genes for stability and high yield.