Studies on character association and path analysis for seed yield and its components in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Correlation analysis revealed that the magnitude of genotypic correlation co-efficients was higher as compared to their corresponding phenotypic correlation co-efficients for most of the characters. Seed yield per plant exhibited significant and positive correlation with biological yield, number of pods per plant, harvest index, number of seeds per pod, number of primary branches per plant and 100-seed weight at genotypic as well as phenotypic levels. Path co-efficient analysis indicated the highest positive direct effect of biological yield per plant followed by harvest index towards seed yield. The indirect effects of most of the characters through biological yield per plant were higher and positive. The biological yield per plant and harvest index were found to be the most valuable traits for formulating selection criterion to improve seed yield in chickpea in the present study.