SELECTION INDICES IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Abstract

predicted genetic advance using 24 cultivars of chickpea. Four groups of indices based on 1 to 7 characters including yield were evaluated. The choice of character combinations was based on four criteria which were functions of heritability (h2 ) and genotypic correlation with yield (rgl. Efficiency of the indices over direct selection in terms of predicted genetic advance ranged from 5.4 to 101.7%, the highest efficiency being for all the inclusive 7-character index. In all the four groups, the efficiency of indices increased with increasing number of characters. The mean predicted advance and efficiency of individual groups of indices indicated that for constructing a selection index to select high yielding genotypes, yield should be indicated first followed by characters having higher h2 • rg values.