Component analysis for grain yield on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under moisture deficit conditions

Correlation coefficients and path coefficients for yield and its components were conducted in 24 advance lines of chickpea. Grain yield had significant positive correlation with Secondary branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, seeds per pod, pods per plant and primary branched per plant. Secondary branches per plant had significantly positive correlation with seeds per pod, pods per plant and primary branches per plant. Days to 50% flowering with seeds per pod, days to maturity with plant height, seeds per pod with pods per plant and primary branches per plant and pods per plant with primary branches also showed significantly positive correlation. 100-seed weight had significant and negative correlation with seeds per pod. The direct effects of all the characters with grain yield were positive except 100-seed weight, plant height and primary branches per plant where it was negative. The present study conducted under water deficit conditions indicated that pods per plant and seeds per pod had the maximum contribution in determining grain yield in chickpea hence these parameters should be given more consideration while deciding about selection criteria of genotypes for water deficit conditions.