Relationships among the F₂ to F₆ generations in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

An experiment was conducted to determine the relationships among the F₂ to F₆ generations of 9 chickpea crosses (Cicer arietinum L.). The F₂ yields had a significant and positive correlation with those of the F₃. The mean yields of the F₂ and F₃ were not associated with the mean seed yield of the F₄, F₅ and F₆. Significant associations among the F₂ to F₆ were found for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and individual seed mass. From the results, it is concluded that selection based on early generation bulk yield tests may not be effective. The observed inconsistency in performance of different generations may have been caused by genetic shift and breaking of gene linkages.