Assessment of Hybridization Efficiency and Cross-specific Success Rate in an 8-Parent Half Diallel Population of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) breeding is often constrained by low crossing success, which limits the recovery of adequate F1 seed for subsequent selection. This study assessed hybridisation efficiency and cross-specific success rate in an 8-parent half-diallel population of chickpea. Eight diverse parental genotypes were crossed in 28 non-reciprocal combinations during the Rabi 2024–25 season. Manual emasculation followed by immediate hand pollination was carried out between 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM from January to March, with comparatively better success observed during February. A total of 3,716 emasculation and pollination attempts were made, from which 398 successful pods were obtained, giving an overall crossing success rate of 10.71%. Considerable variation was observed among cross combinations, with success rates ranging from 4.62% to 21.21%. The highest success rate was recorded in BGM 20211(C) × Pusa Chickpea 10216(C), which produced 28 pods from 132 attempts and yielded 48 F1 seeds. The lowest success rate was observed in (GAG 1107 × NBeG 738) × RKGD 21-2, with 5 pods from 108 attempts. These results indicate that hybridisation success in chickpea is strongly influenced by parental compatibility. Identifying more compatible crosses may help breeders improve F1 seed recovery while reducing labour, time and resource requirements.