Genetic Variability of Yield and Its Contributing Characters in Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Presence of genetic variability in genetic stock, the knowledge of inheritance and inter-relationship of the yield components is the basic pre-requisite for yield improvement. A critical perusal is required to these parameters which differ in different genetic stocks developed by the breeders. The present study was undertaken to gather information on different variability parameters and genotype x environment interactions parameters in 38 different genotypes of chickpea in early (D₁), timely (D₂) and late (D₃) sowing conditions. Study revealed presence of sufficient variability with high heritability for most of the yield components. The significance of genotype x environment interaction for all the traits except seeds per pod and protein content revealed differential response of the genotype to varying dates of sowing. It was suggested from the conducted experiment to adopt components like days to flowering, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, biological yield per plant and 100-seed weight for appropriate selection procedure for yield.