Genetics of Double Poddedness and its Significance in Improvement of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

The results of the present study revealed that double poddedness in chickpea was governed by a single recessive gene, with single poddedness being dominant over double poddedness. The F₂ populations of both crosses segregated in a ratio of 3 single-podded (SP) : 1 double-podded (DP). Non-significant χ² values with probabilities ranging from 0.30 to 0.70 indicated a good fit to the expected ratio. Further, the non-significant χ² values with probabilities ranging from 0.20 to 0.30 in the backcross populations confirmed the monogenic inheritance of the F₂ ratio. The number of pods exhibited a positive and strong association with grain yield, whereas its association with 100-seed weight was negative in both cases. This indicated the possibility of a reduction in seed size while selecting high-yielding plants. Therefore, due weightage should be given to both yield and seed size during selection. Regression analysis further revealed that grain yield was more dependent on the number of double pods per plant than on single pods per plant.