Assessment of Genetic Variability and Trait Associations in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Germplasms for Targeted Breeding Strategies

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a pivotal legume crop with substantial contributions to global food security and agricultural sustainability due to its high protein content, adaptability and nitrogen-fixing ability. The efficiency of breeding programs in enhancing chickpea productivity and resilience relies heavily on understanding and utilizing genetic variability within the germplasm. This study investigates the extent of genetic variability among forty-three chickpea genotypes, focusing on key traits such as number of pods (NPP), biological yield (BY), harvest index (HI), days to flowering (DTF), days to maturity (DTM), that influence yield and other agronomic characteristics. Analysis of variance showed significant variability among genotypes for various traits. Higher phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) compared to genotypic coefficients (GCV) indicated the presence of environmental influence, particularly for traits like number of pods per plant (NPP) and biological yield (BY). High heritability was observed for days to flowering (DTF) and maturity (DTM), while genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) varied, indicating additive gene action for some traits. Correlation and path analysis revealed positive relationships between plot yield and traits such as Days to Flowering (DTF), plant height (PH), and harvest index (HI). Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis indicated significant genetic diversity, grouping genotypes into clusters and identifying top performers like GJG1801 and NBEG 924. This study emphasizes the importance of genetic variability in breeding programs, aiding in the selection of elite genotypes for targeted traits improvement.