Unraveling Genetic Variability for Yield and its Component Traits under Terminal Drought Conditions in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Rainfed agriculture covers nearly 80% of the total cropped area and contributes more than 60% of global food production. In chickpea, productivity under post-rainy rainfed conditions is greatly constrained by drought stress. Enhancing drought tolerance through genetic improvement of quantitative traits remains a vital strategy. To assess genetic variability, an investigation was conducted with 30 chickpea genotypes, including six standard checks, during the post-rainy season at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapur. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all fourteen morphological traits, with wide ranges observed. Under non-stress conditions, high phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient variation were renowned for the number of primary branches per plant and seeds per pod, while under stress, higher values were recorded for number of pods per plant, seed yield per plant, and plot yield. Broad-sense heritability was high for most traits, except days to first flowering and days to 50% flowering. A high genetic advance over mean for seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, plot yield, biological yield, and harvest index suggested the predominance of additive gene action. Hence, direct selection for these traits would be effective and could substantially aid in the development of drought-tolerant chickpea varieties.Top of FormBottom of Form