Genetic variability of some chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes and correlation among yield and related traits in humid tropics of southern Ethiopia

The current investigation evaluated the genetic variability of some chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes and correlation among yield and related traits in Abaya Woreda. Five improved chickpea genotypes along with one local variety were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were recorded from phenological, growth parameters; and yield and related traits depicted the ranges of mean values for most of the traits were large depicting the existence of genetic variations among the tested genotypes. Phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were found to be higher than genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) for all the traits. Higher heritability values were obtained from seed yield per hectare, days to maturity, seed yield, yield per plot, hundred seed weight, number of pod length, plant height, number of primary branch per plant, days to emergence and days to flowering whereas low heritability was obtained from number of secondary branch per plant, number seed per pod and of pod per plant. Positive and highly significant correlation were reported between grain yield and yield per plot, hundred seed weights and yield per plot while negative and significant correlation was obtained between pod length and yield per plot. Thus, genetic evaluation in these genotypes indicated that there were genotypic and phenotypic variation, positive and significant correlation and moderate to high heritability in the most studied traits that will be utilized in the future breeding program. Finally, this investigation should be repeated over years and locations to confirm future breeding program. Key words: Cicer arietinum, correlation, genetic variation, heritability.