INTROGRESSION OF DESIRABLE TRAITS FROM Cicer reticulatum INTO CULTIVATED CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.).

A set of 100 genotypes including 92 inter-specific derivatives, their six parents and two check cultivars was evaluated during rabi 2019-20 and 2020-21. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences between genotypes for all traits evaluated in both the years, as well as for the pooled over analysis. The analysis of variance revealed substantial variations across years; however, the year x genotype interaction was non-significant for all of the variables tested. Transgressive segregants were recovered for seed yield, pods per plant, fruiting branches per plant and 100-seed weight. Nine derivatives namely GLW7225, GLW7242, GLW7246, GLW7247, GLW6241, GLW6359, GLW6360, GLW6361 and GLW6362 were found significantly superior than the respective parents and check cultivars for seed yield. High GCV was observed for seed yield, pods per plant, fruiting branches per plant and 100-seed weight. Seed yield, 100-seed weight, days to 50% flowering, pods per plant and fruiting branches per plant had high heritability. Genetic advance was high for seed yield while it was moderate for pods per plant, fruiting branches per plant and 100-seed weight. Plant height, number of pods per plant, fruiting branches per plant, and 100-seed weight had a strong positive association with seed yield. The current study found that the wild progenitor, Cicer reticulatum, contains a large amount of latent diversity for numerous yield augmenting traits that can be introgressed into cultivated chickpea for yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]