Genetic variability, character association and path coefficient analysis in chickpea grown under heat stress conditions

Abstract

Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis was studied for seed yield and its component characters in 100 advance breeding lines of chickpea sown under heat stress environments of Jabalpur. The analysis of variance revealed the significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits indicating presence of sufficient variability among the genotypes for various traits. The High GCV and PCV were observed for seed yield per plant, 100- seed weight, harvest index, number of effective pods per plant, total number of pods per plant and number of secondary branches. High heritability with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was noted for seed yield per plant, followed by 100 - seed weight, harvest index, number of effective pods per plant and total number of pods per plant indicated that selection may be effective for this character. Seed yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, number of effective pods per plant and 100-seed weight indicating that these three traits were main yield attributing traits. The Path analysis indicated that number of effective pods per plant and 100- seed weight had maximum direct effect on seed yield. On the basis of seed yield ICCV 84251, ICCV 04303, ICCV 06108, ICCV 03209, ICCV 04312 have been identified as heat tolerant lines. The potential for indirect selection for heat stress tolerance using these associated characters may be useful to the breeder to formulate appropriate breeding plans for selection of the genotype which tolerate high temperature conditions.