Genetic diversity studies in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm

The present experiment was carried out with thirty five genotypes of Chickpea in Rabi 2017–18 at field experimentation centre of the Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad to assess the nature and magnitude of genetic divergence using Mahalanobis's D² Statistics. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the thirty two genotypes for fifteen characters studied indicating that significant amount of genetic variability present in the material. Seed yield per plant had maximum Phenotypic and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV and GCV), followed by, 100seed weight and number of pods per plant. High magnitude of heritability (broad sense) was recorded for seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant and harvest index. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, harvest index and biological yield per plant suggesting that, the role of additive gene effect and possibilities of achieving high genetic progress through selection. The twenty five Chickpea genotypes were grouped into six clusters clusters suggesting considerable amount of genetic diversity in the material. The cluster VI had maximum ten genotypes followed by cluster I (08 genotypes), cluster II and V having five genotypes, while cluster IV had four genotypes and cluster III having three genotypes, respectively. The intra-cluster D² value ranged from 11.17 to 49.53 while, inter-cluster D² value ranged from 32.01 to 152.13. The maximum intra cluster distance was exhibited by cluster IV followed by cluster V and cluster VI. The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and V(152.13), followed by cluster V and VI(146.93) and cluster II and VI (143.60) suggesting that the genetic architecture of the genotypes in one cluster differ entirely from those included in other clusters. Cluster IV had exhibited highest cluster mean value for seed yield per plant and seed index. Cluster V has highest mean value for number of pods per plant, biological yield per plant and days to maturity. Cluster VI showed high mean value number of primary branches per plant and harvest index. Cluster III exhibited highest mean value for number of secondary branches per plant and lowest mean value for plant height and days to maturity. Maximum contribution toward the total divergence was exhibited by 100-seed weight followed by seed yield per plant, biological yield, number of pods per plant and harvest index. The genotypes BCG101, BCG708, PBC37, IC275313, Phule G Vikram ICC144, IC275326, ICC3812, ICC303 and PKV4 were identified as genetically diverse parents, which can be utilized for future crop improvement programme in Chickpea. The above results indicated that these genotypes have maximum genetic diversity and useful for developing a large number of segregants through crossing programme by using maximum diverse genotypes.