Induced mutations in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) VI. Significance of induced altered correlations

Abstract

Populations of desi (G 130, H 214), kabuli (C104) and green seeded type (L 345) chickpea mutagenised through gamma rays (400, 500 and 600 Gy), fast neutrons (5, 10 and 15 Gy), N-nitroso-N-methyle urea (NMU) 0.01% (20h) and 0.02% (8h) and ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) 0.1% (20h) and 0.2% (8h) were evaluated for induced magnitude and directional changes in the associations and correlations in M3 generation. Correlation studies for all the 21 possible associations among seven characters in M3 showed clearly that the mutagenic treatments have succeeded in generating more favourable associations between various components of yield. Several highly significant directional changes towards desirable side were induced in correlation coefficients of character pairs in the mutagen treated populations. The magnitude and direction of change induced by a particular treatment varied according to variety and the mutagen used. Correlation analysis showed that grain yield was strongly associated with number of grains/plant, number of grains/pod, 100 seed weight and harvest index. The results also indicated that some of the undesirable negative correlations among yield components were not only broken but were changed significantly into desirable positive ones. Some of the undesirable negative correlations among yield components existing in control populations viz., grain yield/plant vs. biological yield/plant and number of pods/plant and number of grains/plant vs. biological yield/plant, have been significantly weakened or decreased.