Vol. 10, Issue 3 (2021)

Author(s):
Panwar A, Nitesh SD, Sharma Kamal Dev and Katna G

Abstract:
The crossability of cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with two wild annual species C. reticulatum (ILWC 46) and C. echinospermum (ILWC 239, ICC 17159) was estimated under field condition at two environmental locations viz., Palampur and Sangla. C. reticulatum showed higher crossability to chickpea as evident from higher seed set (14.36%) than C. echinospermum (seed set = 8.49%). Crosses involving C. reticulatum also had higher pollen viability (93-97%) than crosses involving C. echinospermum (33-67%). Weather parameters with day temperature regimes of 15.9-29.4^oC; relative humidity of 38-41% and photoperiod of 8.9 hours were most appropriate for successful hybridization. Positive heterosis for seed yield per plant was observed in HC-2 × ILWC239 (148%) and HC-1 × ILWC46 (71.70%). Inter-specific crosses were also characterized for different traits and sufficient genetic variability existed for all the traits under study. Seed yield per plant for inter-specific hybrids was 12.70 g as compared to 12.64 g for chickpea and 6.79 g for wild species. Correlation studies revealed that higher seed yield per plant can be obtained by selecting derivatives with high biological yield per plant, pods per plants, seeds per plant and harvest index.