GENETIC ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PARENTS AND CROSSES FOR YIELD IMPROVEMENT IN CHICKPEA

Abstract

Asevenparent diallel analysis excludingreciprocals revealed the predominance of additive variance for pods/plant and seeds/pod and both additive and nonadditive variance for 100-seed weight and seed yield/plant. The parentll A-I and Phule G-2 were found to be good general combiners for seed yield and loo-seed weight, while Simblapur and P-I631 were good general combiners for seeds/pods and pods/plant,. respectively. Four heterotic hybrids, viz., Phule G-2 x P-1631, A-I x P-3720, A-I x Parmer 4-141, and A-I x Phule G-2, were identified as potential crosses and the way in which they should be handled is discussed.