| Pak. J. Bot., 36(4): 779-785, 2004. | Back to Contents | ||||
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Updated: 09-07-09 | ||||
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AN ASSESSMENT OF VARIABILITY FOR ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT TRAITS IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) AFSARI SHARIF QURESHI*, ANILA SHAUKAT*, A. BAKHSH1, M. ARSHAD1 AND A. GHAFOOR2
Abstract: Two hundred and nineteen chickpea genotypes were studied for genetic
variability in qualitative and quantitative traits of economic importance.
The experiment was planted in RCBD with 2 replications. Results revealed
highly significant differences for plant height (cm), number of primary
and number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, 100 seed
weight (gm), biological yield per plant (g), harvest index and grain
yield/plant. A considerable variation between genotypes for qualitative
traits such as growth habit, seed shape and testa texture was also recorded.
The correlation coefficients of primary branches, secondary branches,
pods per plant, biological yield and harvest index with grain yield
were positive and highly significant. However, days to maturity were
negatively correlated with grain yield. Genetic variability for plant
height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number
of pods per plant and total biological yield respectively ranged from
40 - 90 cm, 1.5 - 6.5, 1.1 - 15.5, 1-75 and 1.5 - 50.5 g/plant. Whereas
grain yield per plant varied from 5.5 - 25.5g, and harvest index ranged
from 10 - 70. The variation for days to flowering was in the range of
120 - 150. The variation revealed in this study would be exploited in
breeding programs aimed at development of high yielding genotypes.
Department of Biological Sciences,
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. |
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