Identification of Transgressive Segregants and Variability Studies in Segregating Generations of Four Crosses in Chickpea

Background: An impressive progress has been made in development and promotion of extra-large kabuli chickpea varieties in India during the past decade. As a result, India has become from importer to exporter of kabuli chickpea. The breeding programmes need to continue efforts on enhancing genetic gain in breeding kabuli chickpea varieties through increasing genetic variability and precision and efficiency of selection. This study was aimed at evaluating early segregating generations of chickpea to assess genetic variability for various important traits.

Methods: Four large-seeded kabuli chickpea genotypes (JGK 2, KAK 2, KRIPA and ICC 17109); were crossed with a common small-seeded kabuli genotype (ICC 16644). F₁, F₂ and F₃ along with parents were evaluated under normal field conditions and observations were recorded on various phenological, morphological and yield traits. Data was analysed to estimate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in the segregating populations.

Result: Considerably high variability was observed in F₂ and F₃ populations of all the crosses. Heritability estimates in broad sense were high coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean for days to first flower, days to pod initiation, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and 100-seed weight which indicated the presence of additive gene action for these traits. Large number of transgressive segregants was identified for number of seeds per plant followed by number of pods per plant and yield per plant. The most promising transgressive segregants could be used in future breeding programme.