Contribution of different characters towards seed yield in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Correlation analysis revealed positive association of pod bearing branches/plant, pods/plant, and plant height with seed yield in all the four environments individually as well as pooled over environments. Besides, these characters had positive interrelationships with one anotherin most of the environments. The path analysis at genotypic level revealed that pods/plant and plant height had considerable positive direct effect on seed yield. However, pod bearing branches had negative direct effect but it had high positive indirect effect via pods/plant on seed yield. Selection based on these three characters may contribute considerably to improvement in seed yield. Interestingly, days to maturity had nonsignificant correlation with yield in all the four environments, which provides scope for selection for seed yield in all maturity groups.