Vol. 6, Issue 5, Part E (2020)

Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to study the genetic variability, correlation and path analysis for yield and yield attributes in 40 early maturing genotypes of desi and kabuli chickpea which is a nontraditional pulse crop of Assam. Another eight nationally recommended desi type varieties were utilized for identifying suitable stable varieties for cultivation in Assam. There was considerable genetic variation for most of the characters studied. Seed yield per plant, pods per plant and effective branches per plant possessed high amount of genotypic coefficient of variation and exhibited high estimates of genetic advance coupled with moderately high heritability. Correlation and path coefficient are important tools for getting information regarding relationship among different traits for use in selection. In the present investigation estimates of genotypic correlation revealed positive and highly significant association among seed yield, 100 seed weight, harvest index, pods per plant, effective branches per plant and biological yield. The phenotypic correlations also revealed the same pattern. Path coefficient at genotypic level showed that harvest index and biological yield made maximum direct contribution and also exerted appreciable indirect influence towards seed yield. The pooled analysis of variance for the eight desi type chickpea varieties subjected to stability analysis was found to be significant for grain yield. This indicated that the performance of some of the genotypes were not stable over environments. The genotypes KPG 59 and BG 372 were stable for unfavourable seasons and having more yield than most of the genotypes.