VARIABILITY ANALYSIS, HERITABILITY, GENETIC ADVANCE AND CORRELATION AMONG 30 ELITE GENOTYPES OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital legume globally, yet restricted genetic diversity and environmental stresses limit its yield.This study assesses the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and correlation among 30 elite chickpea genotypes during the Rabi season of 2022-23 at ITM University, Gwalior.The genotypes were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications to analyze traits such as days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of pods per plant, 100seed weight, and yield per plant.Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, revealed significant differences among the genotypes.High heritability coupled with genetic advance was observed for traits like days to 50% flowering and number of pods per plant, indicating strong potential for selection.Correlation analysis highlighted positive relationships between early flowering and yield components like pod number, while a negative correlation was noted with seed weight.These findings suggest that genotypes with early flowering and a higher number of pods should be prioritized in breeding programs aimed at improving yield potential and adaptability to different environments.