Trait Association and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Yield-Related Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Aim: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) yield is influenced by interactions among morphological, phenological, productivity and seed-quality traits. Understanding these relationships is important for effective selection. The present study aimed to identify traits associated with seed yield and their contribution to yield improvement in chickpea. Study Design: Augmented block design with four blocks and five checks. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, during the rabi season. Methodology: Eighty-nine chickpea genotypes, including five checks, were evaluated for 13 characteristics encompassing morphological, phenological, productivity and seed-quality traits. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations were estimated to determine associations with seed yield. Path analysis was performed with seed yield as the dependent variable to partition the correlations into direct and indirect effects and identify selection criteria. Results: Seed yield per plant showed significant associations with plant height and secondary branches (r = 0.82 each), followed by days to maturity and seed protein content (r = 0.45 each), hundred-seed weight (r = 0.34) and days to first flowering, pods per plant and seed vigour (r = 0.28 each). Seeds per pod also showed a significant positive association with seed yield (r = 0.24). Path analysis revealed the strongest direct effect of pods per plant (0.738), followed by days to first flowering (0.198), hundred-seed weight (0.187), primary branches (0.177) and days to maturity (0.176). Plant height had a negligible direct effect (0.002) but an indirect contribution via pods per plant (0.334), whereas seeds per pod exhibited a negative indirect effect through pods per plant (−0.642). Conclusion: The number of pods per plant and hundred-seed weight were found to be important traits for enhancing seed yield in chickpea. The direct and indirect effects observed among yield components underscore the complexity of trait interrelationships. Therefore, simultaneous consideration of trait associations along with the direct and indirect contributions can strengthen the selection efficiency and facilitate the identification of superior, high-yielding chickpea genotypes.