Genetic Variability and Inter-relationships among Grain Physical and Hydration traits in Chickpea

Abstract

Background: Chickpea is the major pulse crop in India accounting for nearly 43% (10.13 MT) of the total pulse production and 80% of total pulse export during 2018-19. It is a good source of carbohydrates and protein and constitutes an important component of diet of largely vegetarian Indian masses. Hydration capacity and volume expansion (after soaking in water) are important cooking quality traits in chickpea, particularly in kabuli type which are mostly cooked as ‘whole grain’ without decortication. Limited information is available on these properties of chickpea. The current study is aimed at assessing the genetic variability and inter-relationships among grain physical and hydration traits in chickpea varieties. Methods: During the period 2017-2018, a total of fifty-nine chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties including 46 desi type and 13 kabuli type varieties were evaluated for their grain physical and hydration traits viz., 100-seed weight, seed density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. Result: Significant differences were observed for 100 seed weight (Range: 11.00 to 51.50 g/100 seeds; Mean: 21.8 g/100 seeds), seed density (Range: 1.19 to 1.88; Mean: 1.37), hydration capacity (Range: 0.05 to 0.62; Mean: 0.24), hydration index (Range: 0.33 to 1.51; Mean: 1.10), swelling capacity (Range: 0.08 to 0.60; Mean: 0.25) and swelling index (Range: 0.62 to 2.33; Mean: 1.59). The magnitude of PCV was moderately higher than the corresponding GCV values for most of the traits indicating that the influence of the environment on the expression of these traits was not high. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for 100-seed weight, hydration capacity and swelling capacity in both desi and kabuli varieties. These results indicate that high heritability of these traits is predominantly due to additive gene action and hence direct selection for these traits is expected to be effective. 100-seed weight showed significant positive correlations with hydration capacity and swelling capacity and negative correlation with seed density. Seed density showed negative correlation with hydration capacity, hydration index and swelling capacity. Hydration capacity was positively correlated with hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. These traits are important for consumers where whole grains are consumed after soaking and cooking. Existence of sufficient variability for these quality traits suggest the scope for breeding chickpea towards improved consumer preferred quality traits.