Evaluation of desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum l.) genotypes for yield and yield contributing traits under rainfed rice based cropping ecosystem of chhattisgarh

In the present investigation, 38 genotypes were evaluated for estimation of variability and genetic diversity and interrelationship for yield and yield attributing characters. This study showed high heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean for 100-seed weight and low heritability coupled with low genetic advance for plant height, primary branches plant⁻¹, secondary branches plant⁻¹, pod bearing length, days to maturity, pod length, seeds pod⁻¹, biological yield, harvest index indicating high impact of environmental conditions on these characters. Divergence analysis revealed considerable amount of genetic diversity among genotypes. This analysis identified 18 superior diverse genotypes viz. BG 3007, BDNG 2003⁻¹, VIJAY, PHULE G 0105⁻¹0⁻¹, BG 3008, NBeG 20, JG⁻¹4 ⁻¹10, SAKI 95⁻¹6, BGM-772, IPC-2004-98, RKG⁻¹14, BG-3009, PBC-74, Phule G-00110, JG-74, JG-315, RG-03⁻¹5 and Indira Chana⁻¹ for yield and yield attributing characters that can be useful in hybridization programme for obtaining better segregants. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that the characters namely, plant population plot⁻¹, days to maturity, pods plant⁻¹, seeds pod⁻¹ and harvest index showed significant positive association with seed yield plot⁻¹ indicating that high seed yield can be possible by improving these characters in future. The path coefficient analysis showed that, plant population plot⁻¹ had the highest direct effect on seed yield. Hence, this character seems to be important contributor to seed yield and must be considered in selection for high seed yield.