Development and characterization of recombinant inbreed lines for seed related traits in chickpea

Abstract

Seed traits are very important factors in improving yield and productivity of chickpea. However being quantitative in nature, gains through direct selection for these traits particularly for bolder seed size with higher yield were never successful and thus the way forward is to identify QTLs linked to these traits. Such a study requires development of mapping populations segregating for traits of interest. Mapping population of the cross SBD 377 (Desi Bold Type with 100 seed weight 48 g and seed number per plant of 34 per plant) and BGD 112 (Desi small seeded with 100 seed weight of 12-15 g and seed number per plant of 90) was developed at Division of Genetics, IARI. The recombinant inbred line (RILs) has been extensively phenotyped. Contrasting variability exists among the RILs for quantitative characters studied. Plant height ranged from 20 to 70 cm with 1-4 primary branches, 0-23 secondary branches and 7-54 total branches per plant. Number of seeds ranged 5 to 250 seeds per plant and pod number 5-180 per plant. The range of 100 seed weight was 13-50 g. Plant yield varied from 2-69 g. Availability of such a RIL population shall serve as a good base for the QTL analysis.