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Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Grain Yield and Related Traits in Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at Central Highland of Ethiopia

Fasil Hailu, Sentayehu Alamerew and Asnake Fikre

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crop in Ethiopia. However, the national average productivity of chickpea is lower than the potential. The present study was carried out to assess the relationship between yield and yield related traits and measure the direct and indirect contribution of yield components on grain yield in kabuli chickpea using statistical procedures. Forty nine kabuli chickpea genotypes were studied for thirteen traits at Debre Zeit and Akaki using 7 × 7 simple lattice design in 2019 cropping season. The study results showed that grain yield had significant and positive correlations with harvest index, biological yield, number of primary branches, days to flowering and number of pod per plant both at genotypic and phenotypic levels indicating the possibility of improving these traits through selection. On the contrary, hundred seed weight had a significant and negative relationship with grain yield at the genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis revealed that harvest index (0.668) followed by biological yield (0.578) had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield, indicating that both traits could be considered important in kabuli chickpea yield improvement.