Genetic potential and traits association in desi and kabuli chickpea genotypes

The present experiment was carried out at the experimental area, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during the growing season of 2013-14. The current research work was planned to evaluate the genetic potential and traits association in 20 Desi and Kabuli chickpea genotypes (10 Desi and 10 Kabuli). The genetic materials were grown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on plant height (cm), secondary branches plant , pods plant, seed yield (kg ha), biological yield plot and harvest index. Genotypes revealed significant differences for most of the traits which ranged from 63.66 to 105.28 cm for plant height, 8 to 18 for secondary branches plant, 43 to 64 for pods plant, 862 to 2481 kg for seed yield (kg ha), 1383 to 3576 g for biological yield plot and 20 to 39% for harvest index. Mean squares showed highly significant differences (P≤0.05) for comparative performance of Kabuli and Desi genotypes. Mean value for seed yield (kg ha) of Kabuli genotypes was 1210.10 kg, which was comparatively less than mean value of Desi genotypes which was 1823.90 kg. Among Kabuli genotypes, analysis of variance (P≤0.05) showed significant differences for most of the traits. Genotype NKC-5-S14 showed minimum (861.60 kg ha) seed yield while maximum (1589.30 kg ha) seed yield was recorded for NKC-5-S16. Mean squares in Desi genotypes also revealed significant differences (P≤0.05) for most of the traits. Maximum (2481.3 kg ha) seed yield was given by genotype NIFA2005, while minimum (1002.90 kg ha) seed yield was recorded for genotype SL-3-29. Broad sense heritability estimates for yield and yield components were moderate to high that ranged from 54% to 92%. Positively and highly significant association of seed yield was observed with biological yield plot (r = 0.85**) and harvest index (r = 0.42**), while significantly negative correlation was observed with 100-seed weight (r = -0.26*). Biological yield plot, harvest index would be the proper choice criteria for better seed yield in chickpea. Results showed that genotypes NIFA-2005, NDC-4-20-5, SL-3-64, NDC-4-20-4 and NKC-5-S16 performed better and could be utilized as a part of future breeding projects for the improvement of high yielding cultivars.


Introduction
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), otherwise called bengal gram or garbanzo, is one of the soonest food vegetables developed by man and assumes a key part in human eating routine and agricultural system.It belongs to family Fabaceae and genus Cicer, approximately all Cicer species have 2n=2x=16 chromosomes.Chickpea kernels contain 25-29% protein, 38-59% starch, 5-6% lubricant, 3% fiber, 3% searing trash and 0.3% phosphorus and 0.2% calcium [1].Dhal is the part of chickpea without its seed coat [2].During 2014-15, the gram, one of the major pulses grown in rainfed areas on marginal lands recorded production of 484 thousand tonnes against the production of 399 thousand tonnes during the same period last year, witnessed a growth of 21.3 percent due to increase in area and favorable weather condition.[3].Two particular types of chickpea are perceived, i.e.Desi and Kabuli.In Desi chickpea, the regular seed types include different shades and blends of cocoa, yellow, green and dark.The blooms are for the most part pink and the plants show different degrees of anthocyanin pigmentation, although some Desi types have white blossoms and no anthocyanin pigmentation on the stem.The Desi types represent 80-85% of chickpea zone The Kabuli type chickpeas are described by white shaded seed, slight seed coat, white blooms, smooth seed surface, and absence of anthocyanin pigmentation on the stem.When contrasted with Desi types, the Kabuli types have larger amounts of sucrose and lower levels of fiber.The Kabuli types for the most part have considerable estimated seeds and get higher business cost than Desi sorts [4].Plant reproducers are constantly trying to enhance the hereditary capability of yield for the harvest to meet the requirements of the developing population.Plant breeders are continuously struggling to improve the genetic potential of yield of this crop so as to meet the demands of the growing population.The approaches to make significant improvement in chickpea production require information on nature and magnitude of genetic variation in quantitative characters and their interrelationship in population comprising diverse genotypes, which are important fundamentals for systematic breeding programme [5].Keeping in view the most importance of genetic variability, heritability and traits association the present investigation was undertaken on 20 genotypes of chickpea.

Materials and methods
The experiment on genetic potential and traits association in Desi and Kabuli chickpea genotypes was conducted at the experimental area, University of Agriculture, Peshawar during growing season 2013-14.The experimental material comprises of 10 Desi and 10 Kabuli chickpea genotypes, which were evaluated in the field environments in a randomized complete block design with three replications.The experimental plot involved four rows, each had 4 meter in length.Row to row and plant-to-plant spaces were 30 and 10 cm, respectively.The plot to plot distance was 60 cm.

Statistical analysis
The information recorded on every parameter was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure suitable for a randomized complete block design through MSTATC PC program.The mean contrasts among chickpea genotypes for distinctive morphological and yield characteristics were measured by applying least significant differences (LSD) test at 5% level of likelihood as proposed by

Table 3. Correlation between several characters of chickpea genotypes
Negative and significant relationship of this trait was recorded with harvest index (r = -0.32*).Pods plant -1 was observed positive and non-significant correlation with plant height (r = 0.24 ns ) and biological yield plot -1 (r = 0.07 ns ), while negative and nonsignificant association of this trait was found with seed yield (r = -0.12ns ).Similar results, pods plant -1 was positive and significant associated with harvest index [13].[14] Also observed similar results, positive and highly significant association of pods plant -1 with secondary branches plant -1 and harvest index (Table 3).
h 2 = Vg / Vp.Correlation The correlation of seed yield with other yield components was worked out according to [7].