Genetic variability and correlation studies for traits related to drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to study the extent of genetic variability and association of traits related to drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experimental material comprised of 30 chickpea genotypes obtained from a large germplasm collection maintained at I~RI. New Delhi. The material was planted in RBD with three replications under rainfed conditions. The seeds were sown in 2-rows plots of 4m length with a spacing of 45-30 cm. Five competitive plants of each genotype in each replication were randomly taken to record observations on days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, biological yield per plant (g). seed yield per plant (g) and 100-seed weight (g). Relative leaf water content (RWC%) was determined as per method suggested by Barrs and Weatherley [1] and membrane injury index was estimated as per method given by Deshmukh et al., [2].