Estimation of genetic variability for seed yield and its components in chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) genotypes

The present experiment was conducted to determine magnitude of genetic variability with fifteen kabuli chickpea genotypes in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 growing season under Mediterranean climate conditions. In this present study seed yield per plant and yield component were investigated. The experiment was orginazed with three replications in randomized complate blocks design. Data were recorded on plant height, number of branches per plant, height of first podding node, full and total pods number per plant, seeds number per plant, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant. Analysis of variance for seed yield per plant and its component showed significant differences among all genotypes. Broad-sense heritability ranged from 12.27% (total pod number per plant) to 93.88% (100-seed weight). Moderate and high estimates of broad sense heritability were observed for branches number per plant, harvest index and 100-seed weight. It can be concluded that the seed yield of chickpea can be improved by selecting these characters in breeding chickpea materials.