Genetic variability and path analysis for yield and attributing traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)" in sandy loam of Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan

The study was conducted to analyze the genetic variability, correlation coefficient and path analysis for yield and attributing traits among twenty-one chickpea genotypes (Cicer arietinum L.) using randomized block design with three replications during the Rabi 2023-2024. The observations were recorded for thirteen traits viz., days to 50% flowering, days to 50% pod setting, plant height, days to maturity, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, biological yield per plant, 100-seed weight, and harvest index with seed yield per plant. The analysis of variance was found significant for the traits under study. The maximum mean performance for seed yield per plant were showed by genotypes IPC 08-11 (8.437), CSJ 556 (8.093), K-850(M)(7.073),IPC 14-86(7.027) and ICC21170(6.097).The number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, and 100-seed weight displayed high GCV and PCV. Correlation coefficient analysis indicated a higher positive and significant association between seed yield per plant and biological yield per plant, followed by harvest index, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, and 100-seed weight at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, biological yield per plant, days to 50% flowering and harvest index had positive direct effects on seed yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Although the number of pods per plant had a negative direct effect, it showed a significant positive correlation with seed yield per plant, suggesting that indirect selection for this trait may be effective.