Genetic Variability and Character Association in F3 Generation of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Rainfed and Irrigated Conditions

The goal of the current study was to analyze the genetic variability and character association in F3 generations of chickpea under rainfed and irrigated conditions to finalize appropriate selection criteria for improvement of seed yield in chickpea under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Five F3 generations of chickpea crosses were evaluated in compact family block design with three replications at Research Farm, ARSS, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, India. In analysis of variance, mean sum of squares indicated significant differences among the generations for all the characters under both conditions. The highest range of variation was observed for seed yield per plant followed by fruiting branches per plant, pods per plant, 100 seed weight and seeds per pod in irrigated condition, whereas in rainfed condition the highest range of variation was registered by seed yield per plant followed by biological yield per plant, 100 seed weight and pods per plant. The RSG-895 x RSG-888 showed high GCV and PCV for fruiting branches per plant, pods per plant, biological yield per plant, and seed yield per plant in both conditions, as well as for seeds per pod under irrigated condition. Under irrigated condition high value of GCV and PCV were noted in IPC-94-94 x RSG-888 for harvest and in CSJD-901 x RSG-931 for pods per plant, seeds per pod and seed yield per plant. Under rainfed high GCV and PCV were observed in cross RSG-888 x ICC-4958 for seeds per pod. This indicates the existence of wide variability for these traits in the progenies of particular crosses and scope of improvement through simple selection. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean (GAM) was noted in RSG-888 x ICC-4958 for pod per plant under both conditions. Under irrigated condition, the cross CSJD-901 x RSG-931 for pods per plant, RSG-895 x RSG-888 for seed yield per plant, RSG-888 x ICC-4958 for harvest index, RSG-888 x ICC-4958 and CSJD-901 x RSG-931 for 100-seed weight showed high heritability along with high GAM. Whereas under rainfed, the crosses RSG-895 x RSG-888 and IPC-94-94 x RSG-888 for pods per plant, BG-362 x RSG-931 for seed yield per plant, and IPC-94-94 x RSG-888 for harvest index, demonstrated high heritability along with high GAM. This result indicates the importance of additive gene action in inheritance of these characters, hence simple selection can be used to improve seed yield. Seed yield per plant exhibited positive and significant correlation with fruiting branches per plant, pods per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index and 100-seed weight under both irrigated and rainfed conditions. In irrigated condition seed yield per plant had significant and positive correlation with days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height, whereas in rainfed condition it had significant and positive association with protein content. Further, inter se these characters were also significantly positively correlated. So, selection based on these characters is expected to bring improvement in the seed yield.