Early view

Naser SABAGHNIA, Mojtaba NOURAEIN, Yousef NASIRI, Mohsen JANMOHAMMADI

Abstract

This research evaluated the relationships among 18 traits in 36 chickpea genotypes grown at Maragheh, Iran, over two seasons. Correlation, regression, and path analyses were used to elucidate direct and indirect associations with yield. The traits were classified into six levels encompassing vegetative growth and plant architecture (Level 1), branching (Level 2), pod formation (Level 3), grain number (Level 4), pod/grain mass and grain size (Level 5), and grain yield (Level 6). Grain yield showed positive associations with most of the traits, although the magnitude of relationships differed between years. Path analysis identified husk weight per primary pod as the strongest proximal direct effect of grain yield in the first year, whereas grain weight per primary pod showed the strongest proximal direct effect in the second year. Grain number per primary and secondary pods, pod number, branching traits, and plant dry weight were associated with grain yield through different hierarchical pathways. The results indicate that chickpea grain yield is associated within interconnected hierarchy of vegetative, architectural, and reproductive traits, with reproductive traits showing the strongest and most proximal associations in the identified pathways. Grain number, pod production, grain weight, and branching capacity may represent candidate traits for indirect selection; however, their consistency and breeding value should be validated across diverse environments and populations.

Keywords

morphology, direct effect, multiple regression, selection index

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