Assessment of genetic variability and heritability for quantitative traits between desi and kabuli chickpea genotypes

Twenty chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes were evaluated for assessment of genetic variability and heritability for quantitative traits. This experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. All chickpea genotypes revealed high significant differences for most of the traits. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences for comparative performance of kabuli and desi genotypes. Mean value for seed yield (kg ha) of kabuli genotypes was 1210.1 kg, which was comparatively less than mean value of desi genotypes which was 1823.9 kg. Among kabuli genotypes, the analysis of variance showed significant differences for most of the traits. Mean square analysis in desi genotypes also revealed significant differences for most of the traits. Broad sense heritability estimates for yield and yield components was moderate to high. 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 used in future breeding programs for the development of high yielding varieties in chickpea.


Introduction
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), also known as bengal gram or garbanzo, is one of the earliest food legumes cultivated by man and plays a vital role in human diet and agricultural system.It belongs to family

Leguminosae and genus
Cicer, approximately all Cicer species have 2n=2x=16 chromosomes.Two distinct types of chickpea are recognized, i.e. desi and kabuli [1].Genetic variability is a measure of the tendency of individual genotypes in a population to vary from one another.Variability is different from genetic diversity, which is the amount of variation seen in a population.The variability of a trait describes how much that trait tends to vary in response to environmental and genetic influences.Genetic variability also underlies the differential susceptibility of organisms to diseases and sensitivity to toxins or drugs.Causes of genetic are homologous recombination, immigration, translocation, polyploidy, genetic mutations.Genetic variation among the plant traits is important for breeding and in selecting desirable types.The average yield of chickpea in Pakistan is low as compared to another chickpea growing countries of the world.This is primarily due to poor genetic makeup of the cultivars, excessive vegetative growth, low tolerance to diseases and no availability of seeds of improved varieties.Genotypic correlation and path coefficient analysis provides the strength of the association between yield and its contributing traits [2].Plant breeders are continuously endeavouring to improve the genetic potential of yield of this crop 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 [3].Keeping in view the above-mentioned facts, the present investigations were planned with the following objectives to: Examine the genetic variability for morpho yield characters in desi and kabuli chickpea genotypes.Study the comparative performance of desi and kabuli chickpea.

Investigate
heritability for different morphological and yield traits in chickpea.

Materials and methods
The experiment on assessment of genetic variability and heritability for quantitative traits between 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 plantto-plant spaces was 30 and 10 cm, respectively.The plot to plot distance was 60cm.

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 Steel and Torrie

Results and discussions
Days to 50% flowering Data analysis for days to 50% flowering showed significant (p≤0.05)differences among 20 chickpea genotypes (Table 1).It ranged from 121.33 to 128.67 days with an average value of 125.08 days.Early flowering was observed by genotype NKC-5-S-14 (121.33 days) followed by NKC-5-S-17 (122.00 days), while maximum days to 50% flowering were showed in genotype NKC-5-S-16 (128.67 days) followed by SL-5-42 (128 days) (Table 2).[7] also reported similar results for days to 50% flowering in chickpea genotypes.Analysis of variance for days to 50% flowering showed significant (p≤0.05)differences for comparison between kabuli and desi chickpea genotypes (Table 1).Average value for days to 50% flowering of kabuli genotypes was 124.33, which was comparatively less than average value of desi genotypes which was 125.83 (Table 2).
[8] also observed similar results i.e. highly significant variation days to 50% flowering in comparative performance between kabuli and desi chickpea genotypes.Among kabuli genotypes, this trait differed significantly, ranging from 121.33 to 128.67 days with a mean value of 124.33 days.The minimum days to 50% flowering for kabuli genotypes was showed by NKC-5-S-14 (121.33) and maximum days by genotype NKC-5-S-16 (128.67).In desi genotypes, non-significant differences were recorded for days to 50% flowering.It ranged from 123 to 128 days with an average value of 125.83 days.The minimum days to 50% flowering were recorded for genotype SL-3-64 (123) and maximum days were recorded by SL-5-42 (128) (Table 2).Genotypic variance for days to 50% flowering was 1.68, while phenotypic variance was 7.48 with low heritability of 0.22 (Table 3).[9] also reported similar results of low heritability for days to 50% flowering in chickpea genotypes.

Nodules per plant
Analysis of variance revealed highly significant (p≤0.01)differences for number of nodules plant -1 among chickpea genotypes (Table 1).It ranged from 6.33 to 20.52 with a mean value 13.45.Minimum number of nodules plant -1 was recorded for genotype SL-3-29 (6.33) followed by NKC-10-99 (7.22), while genotype SL-3-64 was recorded maximum (20.52) number of nodules plant -1 followed by NKC-5-S13 (20.37) (Table 2).[10] also obtained similar results of highly significant variability for number of nodules plant -1 in chickpea genotypes.Analysis of variance for number of nodules plant -1 showed non-significant differences between kabuli and desi chickpea genotypes (Table 1).[10] also showed opposite results highly significant variation in comparative studied 47 chickpea genotypes.Among kabuli genotypes, showed highly significant (p≤0.01)differences for this trait, ranging from 7.22 to 20.73 with a mean of 13.29.The minimum number of nodules plant -1 was recorded for NKC-10-99 (7.22) and maximum number for genotype NKC-5-S13 (20.73).In desi genotypes, observed highly significant (p≤0.01)differences for this trait.It was ranging from 6.33 to 20.52 with an average value of 13.61.The minimum number of nodules plant -1 was recorded for genotype SL-3-29 (6.33) and maximum number were recorded for SL-3-64 (20.52) (Table 2).Genotypic variance for number of nodules plant -1 was 19.44 and phenotypic variance was 20.54.High heritability estimates for this trait 0.95, respectively (Table 3).[10] also reported similar results of high heritability for number of nodules plant -1 in chickpea genotypes.

Plant height
Analysis of variance testified highly significant (p≤0.01)differences among genotypes for plant height (Table 1).It ranged from 63.66 to 105.28 cm with an average value 83.54 cm.The minimum plant height was observed for genotype SL-3-29 (63.66 cm) followed by NKC-10-99 (76.66 cm), while genotype NKC-5-S15 recorded maximum (105.28 cm) plant height followed by NKC-5-S12 (102.85 cm) (Table 2).[9] also reported similar results of highly significant variation for plant height in chickpea genotypes.Analysis of variance for plant height revealed highly significant (p≤0.01)differences for comparative performance between kabuli and desi chickpea genotypes (Table 1).Mean value for plant height of kabuli genotypes was 86.67 cm, which was comparatively greater than mean value of desi genotypes which was 80.41 cm (Table 2).[8] also observed similar results in comparative performance between kabuli and desi chickpea genotypes.Among kabuli genotypes, analysis of variance showed highly significant (p≤0.01)differences for this trait.Plant height ranged from 76.66 to 105.28 cm, with an average value 86.67 cm.The minimum plant height recorded for NKC-10-99 (76.66 cm) and maximum height for genotype NKC-5-S15 (105.28 cm).In desi genotypes, highly significant (p≤0.01)differences were observed for plant height.It ranged from 63.66 to 88.76 cm with an average value of 80.41 cm.The minimum plant height was recorded for genotype SL-3-29 (63.66 cm) and maximum height was recorded for NDC-4-20-2 (88.76 cm) (Table 2).Genetic and phenotypic variances for the plant height were 72.32 and 81.59.The high heritability for plant height was 0.89 respectively (Table 3).[11, 12] also reported similar results of high heritability for plant height in chickpea genotypes.
[13] also obtained similar results of significant variability for number of primary branches plant -1 in chickpea genotypes.Analysis of variance for number of primary branches plant -1 presented highly significant (p≤0.01)differences between kabuli and desi genotypes (Table 1).Among kabuli genotypes, analysis of variance showed nonsignificant differences for the said trait, ranging from 2.90 to 4.09 with an average value 3.41.The maximum number of primary branches plant -1 was recorded for NKC-5-S20 (4.09) and minimum number for NKC-5-S16 (2.90).In desi genotypes, the analysis of variance exhibited nonsignificant differences for this trait.It ranged from 2.71 to 3.57 with the mean value of 3.07.The minimum number of primary branches plant -1 was recorded for genotypes NDC-4-20-5 and SL-3-64 (2.71) and maximum value was recorded for genotype SL-5-42 (3.57) (Table 2).Genetic variance for number primary branches plant -1 was 0.07 and phenotypic variance was 0.25, with low heritability of 0.27 (Table 3).
[14] also obtained similar results of low heritability for number of primary branches plant -1 in chickpea genotypes.
[15] also reported similar results of moderate heritability for pods plant -1 in chickpea genotypes.
[16] also showed similar results for seed yield in chickpea genotypes.Analysis of variance for seed yield showed highly significant (p≤0.01)differences for comparative performance between kabuli and desi chickpea genotypes (Table 1).Mean value for seed yield of kabuli genotypes was 1210.1 kg, which was comparatively less than mean value of desi genotypes which was 1823.9 kg (Table 2).