Genetic variability parameters and character association studies among phenological traits, yield traits and quality traits under different dates of planting in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The study was conducted during rabi 2020-2021 at RARS, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh to determine relationships among phenological traits, seed yield, yield attributes and quality traits in chickpea under different dates of planting. In the present study, in all three dates of planting, seed yield recorded highly significant and positive association with two phenological traits viz., duration of reproductive phase and duration of flowering. However, these traits were influencing seed yield via other contributing characters like days to first f lowering, duration of vegetative phase, leaf area index, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight and harvest index. Strong correlations have been established between seed size and cooking time especially in kabuli and therefore, special emphasis may be given for improving the seed size with less cooking time in extra-large seeded kabuli chickpea. Further, there is sufficient genetic variability recorded for leaf area index, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, plant height, harvest index, seed yield, 100 seed weight, hydration capacity, swelling capacity, cooking time and iron content in the genotypes and the traits exhibited high heritability and high to moderate genetic advance in all three dates of planting.