Heterosis in relation to molecular diversity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present investigation was undertaken to generate information on heterosis and molecular diversity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for important seed yield and its components traits. Out of fifteen crosses, SAKI 9516 x ICC 101 and SAKI 9516 x ICC 111 had positive and significant mid parent and better parent heterosis for number of primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, pods/plant, seeds/ pod and seed yield/plant; and positive and significant mid parent heterosis for test weight only. The genotypes, SAKI 9516, ICC 101 and ICC 111, were considered as more diverse as they grouped into different clusters due to minimum genetic similarity. Thus, genetic distance estimated based on the RAPDs may be useful for grouping diverse parents resulting into heterotic combination for seed yield and its contributing traits in chickpea.