Genetic analysis of morpho-physiological and quality traits in chickpea genotypes (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The present study was conducted on two different locations, (1) fields of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan and (2) the field of Chaudhary Agriculture farms, Kasur, Pakistan, during the crop season of 2010-2011. Eighty chickpea genotypes (seventy lines and ten check varieties) were evaluated for genetic variability in morpho-physiological and quality traits in chickpea. Highest values of heritability and genetic advance were found for 100-seed weight, proteins, chlorophyll contents, pods per plant, leaf area and grain yield. Correlation studies showed that leaflets per leaf, chlorophyll contents, 100-seed weight and leaf area with pods per plant; proteins with 100-seed weight, proteins and biomass per plant with grains per plant were positive and significant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels at location 1. Leaflets per leaf, chlorophyll contents and proteins with grain yield; 100-seed weight and biomass per plant with seeds per pod were positive and highly significant at genotypic and phenotypic level for location 2. The higher value of genetic variability, genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients indicated that these traits can be used for selecting high yielding and better quality chickpea genotypes. Key words: Cicer arietinum, correlation, proteins, genetic variability, chickpea, PBG, UAF, Pakistan.