Vol. 11, Special Issue 10 (2022)

Author(s):
Ritu R Saxena, Suman Rawte, Kanushree Nandedkar, Ravi R Saxena, SS Porte, Mangla Parikh, Shilpi Verma and Samrath Baghel

Abstract:
Developing nutrient-rich crop cultivars is the most economic strategy to combat malnutrition resulting from protein and mineral deficiencies. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important staple grain legume source of good quality dietary protein around the world, particularly in southern Asia, northern Africa, and the Middle East. In the present investigation, the genetic variability for yield, protein and mineral concentrations was studied in 84 desi accessions of cultivated chickpea. The evaluation of germplasm accessions revealed considerable variation among accessions for all the traits studied. On the basis of data on mean performance for yield and other traits, Vijay and IC269712 (Zn); ICC 275466, ICC269495, ICC 269716, RG 2016-19 and RG 2015-09 (Fe); RGH-4 and RG 2016-84 (protein); JG 130, ICC1053, ICC 5773, ICC 269495, RG 2011-03 and RG 2015-05 (root length) and JG 130, ICC 12440, ICC 8319 and RG 2016-177 for yield were found promising for more than one trait and were selected for use in chickpea improvement. Correlation coefficient suggested that selection of plants with high or more plant height, number of pods per plant, and hundred seed weight would be effective in identifying genotypes with high seed yield potential in chickpea.