GENETIC DIVERGENCE AND INTER-RELATIONSHIP STUDIES IN CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.)

Genetic variability, heritability and interrelationships for seed yield and its components (days taken to 50% flowering, plant height, number of pods per plant, days taken to 90% maturity, 100-seed weight) were estimated in 20 advance genotypes of chickpea collected from various sources along with one check variety (Pb-2000). Highly significant differences existed among the genotypes tested for all the traits. Genotype BRC-61 recorded highest seed yield of 2396 kg ha^-1 where as check variety Bunjab-2000 yielded only 2068 kg ha^-1. Genotype BRC-61 was the earliest in maturity and had highest weight of 100 seeds. Significant and positive correlations were found between yield and 100-seed weight, number of pods per plant and plant height. Broad sense heritability ranged from 89.61 (seed yield) to 99.99% (100-seed weight). Heritabilities for 100-seed weight and number of pods per plant were the greatest compared to other traits. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for days taken to flowering, days taken to maturity, plant height and seed yield were higher than genotypic coefficient of variations (GCV) which means that the expression of these traits is more influenced by environmental effects. It is, therefore, suggested that the grain yield could be improved by using the 100-seed weight and number of pods per plant as selection criterion in chickpea.