Studies on heritability and genetic advance in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

An experiment was conducted during 2008 and 2009 to study the nature and magnitude of genetic parameters and its utilization in designining a conceptual ideotype in chickpea. The estimates of genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variation, phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation, heritability, genetic advance as well as correlation coefficients were worked out in thirty chickpea genotypes for nine plant type related traits. High genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for internode distance followed by seed yield/plant and harvest index. The traits plant height, angle between primary branches and ground, angle between primary branches and secondary branches, number of pods/plant, biological yield/plant and harvest index exhibited high heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance indicating the scope for improvement and genetic gain through the selection of these traits. High significant positive genotypic correlation was observed for plant height, number of total branches, number of pods/plant, 100- seed weight, biological yield, harvest index with seed yield/plant.