Changes in population parameters due to generation advancement in single seed descent in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) I. Flowering and plant height

Abstract

Various conventional methods like pedigree, bulk population, mass selection, single seed descent (SSD) and single pod descent have been used in crop improvement programmes to handle large segregating populations. SSD has been stated to be a good substitute to handle large genotypic variability with considerably lesser efforts [1, 2]. The serious drawbacks of SSD has been reported to be population loss up to 55 per cent [3] which lead to genetic drift and loss of valuable transgressive segregants. The present investigations were carried out to find out the quantum of loss in population mean and variability from F3 to F4 generations by single seed descent in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).