Path Analysis and its Implications in Selection of High Yielding Chickpea (Cicer arietinnum L.)

Twenty eight entries comprising seven parents and twenty one hybrids in F₁ and F₂ generations of chickpea Cicer arietinum L.) were grown in randomized block design for the studies of phenotypic and genotypic correlations and path coefficient analysis. The grain yield was found to. be positively associated with number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pod bearing length and number of secondary branches both in F₁ and F₂ generations. Thus, the correlation coefficient and path coefficient analyses revealed that number of pods per plant and number of secondary branches were the most stable and important yield contributing traits. The other characters which would be kept in mind for selection, were 100-grains weight, number of seeds per pod and pod bearing length coupled with longer duration of seed development period would provide a better plant type in chickpeas. The selection based on those attributes, by giving them appropriate weightage, would increase the efficiency of selection.