Gene action for grain yield and agronomic characters in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Generation mean analysis involving six generations of each of the ten crosses effected from genetically diverse parents was used to know the inheritance of grain yield and its components in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Both additive and non-additive gene effects were involved In the inheritance of most of the characters. Majority of the crosses displayed dominance effect for grain yield. Only two crosses, Phule G 5 x ICC 4958 and Phule G 5 x L 144 showed significant and positive additive gene effect for grain yield per plant. These results suggest the use of bi-parental mating or Intermating of segregants from early segregating generations for the improvement in grain yield in chickpea.