Fazlul HaqueMukherjee, Ajit Kumar2023-11-102023-11-101989https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810200932The phenotypic and genotypic variability, the phenotypic and genotypic correlations and path coefficient studies were made in a collection of forty two varieties of gram (Cicer arietinum L.) of diverse origin in nine quantitative plant characters under late sown condition in typical medium paddy fallows. Highly significant differences were observed in those varieties for all the plant characters studied, except for one character i.e. harvest index. Days to 50% flowering. plant height, number of pods per plant, 100-sead weight, seed yield par plant, days to maturity and harvest index showed a wide range in their phenotypic variability. Number of seeds par pod and number of branches per plant expressed very narrow range of phenotypic variability. The estimate of phenotypic as well as genotypic coefficient of variation were maximum for seed yield per plant, followed by number of pods par plant, 100-seed weight and plant height. Low level of genetic coefficient of variation was observed in days to maturity, harvest index and days to 50% flowering. Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity gave the highest value of heritability expressed in broad sense, while harvest index had the lowest estimate. The three parameters i.e. genetic coefficient of variation, heritability estimates and genetic advance in percentage of mean, considering together revealed that seed yield per plant, number of pods par plant and 100-seed weight might be under control of additive gene effect. Seed yield per plant exhibited highly significant genotypic and phenotypic association with number of poda per plant, days to maturity and harvest index. Plant height and 100-seed weight showed negative association with seed yield per plant, both phenotypically and genotypically. The harvest index had the maximum direct effect on seed yield per plant. For the grain yield improvement in these varieties of gram number of pods per plant, days to maturity and harvest index are the three important yield contributing characters for selection under late sown rainfed condition.EnglishThesis