Genetic analysis of seed size, yield and days to flowering in a chickpea recombinant inbred line population derived from a Kabuli x Desi cross

Quantitative traits seed size, yield and days to flowering were studied in a chick-pea intraspecific recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (F-6:7) derived from a Kabuli x Desi cross. The population was evaluated in two locations over 2 years. Days to flowering was also evaluated in the greenhouse under short-day conditions. Seed size was the most heritable trait (0.90), followed by days to flowering (0.36) and yield (0.14). Negative and significant correlation was found between yield and seed size in the second year where environmental homogeneity was tested by analysing the controls included in each assay. During the first year, the environment was not considered homogeneous for yield in either location. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the three characters were detected in linkage group (LG) 4. In relation to seed size, two QTLs were located in LG4 (QTL(sw1)) and LG8 (QTL(sw2)). QTL(sw1) accounted 20.3% of the total phenotypic variation and QTL(sw2) explained 10.1%. A QTL for yield (QTL(YD)) was located in LG4 explaining around 13% of variation. QTL(YD) might be pleiotropic with QTL(sw1). For days to flowering, a QTL (QTL(DF1)) was located in LG4 for all environments analysed explaining around 20% of variation. QTL(DF1) was closely linked to QTL(sw1) and QTL(YD) in LG4.