Genetics of yield contributing traits with emphasis on seed traits in segregating generations of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The current study’s materials were developed with the intention of increasing grain output by increasing both the quantity of seeds and the weight of each individual seed. A hybrid was produced by crossing a high-seed-weight variety (BGD 103) with a high-seed-count cultivar (JAKI 9218). In the 2019 and 2020 rabi season, 192 offspring from four different chickpea populations (F3, F4, F5, and F6) were tested. With the exception of seed weight and plant height, all other quantitative features showed a declining trend as generations progressed from F3 to F6. The maximum of the possible range has shortened as generations have passed. In all the four segregating generations high genotypic coefficient of variations (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variations (PCV) were observed for number of pods per plant, number of effective pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and grain yield per plant. These characters also recorded high heritability coupled with high genetic advance and genetic advance over mean, indicating the preponderance of additive gene action for these traits and selection will be rewarding for the improvement of such traits. © 2023, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research.