Genetic Diversity and Inter-Relationships of Morpho-Agronomic Traits in Kabuli Chickpea Genotypes under Autumn Sowing Condition

Chickpea is one of the most important grain legumes, which plays significant roles in food security of developing countries and became more important with climate change in recent years. Germplasm characterization for desired traits will help to create efficient breeding populations that are important to achieve particular objectives. Therefore, this research was carried out to (i) investigate the genetic diversity of breeding lines and varieties of Kabuli chickpea under autumn sowing condition, (2) investigate the relationships between morpho-agronomic traits and (3) identify superior genotypes based on multi-traits.

In this research, genetic diversity of 150 chickpea genotypes including 12 Iranian varieties, 4 foreign varieties and 132 breeding lines were investigated for important agronomic traits including phenological traits, plant height and seed yield and its components in the experimental farm of Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (Kermanshah) during two consecutive crop seasons (2019-2020 and 2020-2021). Trials conducted using an Alpha Lattice design with two replications under autumn sowing conditions.

According to the results of combined analysis of variance, there were significant difference between the studied genotypes for all the traits except the seed filling period and seed weight. Results of genotype × trait biplot and genetic correlation analyses showed that number of pod per plant had a positive and significant correlation with seed yield in both cropping seasons. Based on the results of the cluster analysis, the investigated varieties and breeding lines were classified into three and two groups in first and second cropping seasons, respectively. Simultaneous selection of superior genotypes was done for high yield, high seed weight, higher plant height, higher number of pod per plant, early flowering, early maturity and short seed filling period using MGIDI. Genotypes 25, 143, 74, 66, 35 (Azad), 97, 133, 19, 4, 52, 15, 80, 36 (Adel), 40 (Saeed), 108, 22, 86, 106, 141, 99, 98 and 21 were recognized as superior genotypes in the first cropping season, while, genotypes 35 (Azad), 13, 34 (Nosrat), 70, 136, 46, 99, 20, 120, 36 (Adel), 30, 73, 51, 116, 59, 23, 19, 55, 41 (Samin) and 11 were recognized as superior genotypes in the second cropping season. Azad, Adel and genotypes 99 and 19 were identified as superior genotypes in both cropping seasons.

There was significant genetic diversity for traits related to seed yield in the studied germplasm, which allows the selection of superior genotypes. According to the results of this research, the number of pods per plant had an important role in the formation of seed yield in the autumn sowing condition. The superior genotypes identified in this research could be considered as parents of breeding populations in Kabuli chickpea breeding programs for autumn sowing condition of moderate regions.