Assessment of genetic variability in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present investigation conducted to evaluate forty-four diverse chickpea genotypes to estimate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance, correlation coefficient, path analysis during Rabi season, 2023-2024. Results showed that there were highly significant differences among genotypes for all the traits. On combined analysis of all genotypes it was found that estimations for all the characters genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) were lower than those for their phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV. Highest value of GCV and PCV for the seed yield per plant, number of primary branches and secondary branches showed high degree of variability for those two traits. Heritability is a good indicator of character transmission from parents to offspring (Falconer, 1981). The current study showed high heritability for the majority of characteristics in chickpea. High estimate of genetic advance as percent of mean was seen in seed yield per plant, followed by 100 seed weight, harvest index, number of secondary branches and number of pods per plant. Seed yield per plant exhibited positive and significant correlation with, Pods per plant, seed per pod, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, 100 seed weight and harvest index at genotypic and phenotypic level. The results of a path coefficient analysis reported that the 100 seed weight and harvest index had the most favourable direct effects on yield. The Mahalanobis D2 cluster analysis categorized the forty four genotypes into seven distinct clusters, indicating genetic diversity in genotypes. Cluster III and VI exhibited particularly high inter cluster distances. Results confirms that genotypes NDG 22-10, Phule G 1521-12-2, BG 4047, Phule Vikram in cluster IV performing better traits.