Studies on Genetic Parameters, Heritability, and Path Analysis Under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions in Chickpea

Chickpea, a high-protein crop, plays a crucial role in global food security, particularly in developing countries. A study was conducted in 2023 to assess the genetic diversity, heritability, and path analysis of chickpea cultivars. The crop was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Genetic correlations in both environmental conditions revealed that traits with high genetic correlation included plant height, number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, single plant biomass, seed yield per plant (excluding pods), total number of main branches, grain yield per plant (including pods), grain yield per square meter, biomass per square meter, stubble weight, and harvest index. Under irrigated conditions, the highest heritability percentages were observed for biomass (0.96), number of pods per plant (0.92), SCMR (0.98), and grain yield (0.90). The heritability was highest for biomass (0.99) and SCMR (0.99) in rainfed conditions. Based on the path analysis, the biomass (- 4.877) and 100 gw (4.274) showed the highest path coefficient in irrigated conditions. Biomass (- 0.28) and the seed/plant (0.936) had the most path coefficient in rainfed conditions. The first four principal components explained 90.97% of the variance under irrigated conditions and 95.36% of the variance under rainfed conditions. These findings are valuable for breeding programs focused on crop improvement and enhanced drought tolerance.