Correlation, Path Analysis and Genetic Divergence of Various Agro-morphological Traits and Traits Suitable for Mechanical Harvesting of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Germplasm

Five hundred and forty germplasm lines of chickpea were evaluated along with five checks (RLBGK-1, BG 3062, RVG 204, Phule Vikram, NBeG 47) in augmented design during rabi, 2021–2022 at Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India to study the agro-morphological features and traits appropriate for mechanical harvesting. Correlation, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence were estimated to find out the extent of association and genetic divergence among chickpea germplasm. Plant height, growth habit, the height of the initial podding node, and the angle of the primary branch are characteristics that have been researched to identify lines that are suited for mechanical harvesting. Peduncle length, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, chlorophyll fluorescence showed positive correlation with seed yield per plant. Plant height and height of first podding node were showing positive high indirect effects through number of secondary branches on seed yield per plant. Cluster 1 was the largest with 399 germplasm while two clusters number 24 and 37 were smallest with 1 genotype each. Plant height and height of first podding node were exhibiting maximum mean in cluster 32, whereas seed yield per plant was having maximum mean in cluster 14. According to percent contribution of different characters to total divergence obtained, the most significant contributors to the divergence were number of pods per plant and plant height. Correlation analysis indicated that traits suitable for mechanical harvesting are not directly correlated with seed yield, while path coefficient analysis indicated that they have indirect effects on seed yield through number of primary and secondary branches per plant.