Devising selection criteria based on variability and association studies in segregating populations derived from an interspecific cross between Cajanus scarabaeoides × C. cajan

Abstract

Segregating populations (BC 1 F 3 and F 3:4 ) from an interspecific cross (C. scarabaeoides × C. cajan) were evaluated for variability and association studies for yield and its component traits. In both the generations, high values of PCV and GCV were obtained for pods per plant, seed yield per plant and fruiting branches per plant. High estimates of heritability as well as genetic advance were observed for fruiting branches per plant followed by pods per plant and seed yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance revealed the presence of less environmental influence and prevalence of additive gene action. Seed yield per plant had highly significant and positive association with pods per plant, fruiting branches and 100-seed weight. Path coefficient analysis revealed that pods per plant, fruiting branches and 100-seed weight contributing maximum towards seed yield per plant. The study revealed that fruiting branches and pods per plant could be used as selection criteria for improving yield.

Variability and Association Studies for Yield and Yield Related Traits in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

“…The association of pods per plant, secondary branches per plant, plant height and 100-seed weight with seed yield per plant was positive due to positive direct effects. Similar outcomes were also reported by Kothimbire et al (2016), Ram et al (2016), Kumar et al (2017), Ranjani et al (2018) and Singh et al (2019). Above results indicated that indirect selection for higher seed yield can be achieved through secondary branches per plant.…”

“…correlation with seed yield per plant. Pandey et al (2016), Pushpavalli et al (2017), Baldaniya et al (2018) and Singh et al (2019) also reported significant and positive correlation between seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant.…”

“…Phenotypic expression can reliably recognize the genotypic character which was concluded from high magnitude of heritability these traits except seeds per pod. Singh et al (2019) also reported the high magnitude of heritability for all the traits expect seeds per pod in BC 1 F 3 generation of pigeonpea. Moderate heritability was observed for plant height (48.26%) and low for number of seeds per pod (23.67%).…”

“…Seed yield in pigeonpea is a complex trait like in other crops, it influenced by pods per plant and fruiting branches per plant (Singh et al 2018). It is therefore important to analyse the extent and nature of variability and inheritance pattern of various yield amplifying traits (Singh et al 2019). Currently, studies on pigeonpea are orchestrated towards exploration of its morphological and molecular diversity (Sharma et al 2018a;Sharma et al 2018b), hunt for stable fertility restorers and maintainers (Sharma et al 2018c) and mapping of fertility restorer gene (Sharma et al 2019).…”

Unlocking the hidden variation from wild repository for accelerating genetic gain in legumes

“…The C. scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars, a wild relative of pigeonpea has agronomically superior characteristics, including dwarfness, the number of fruiting branches and pods per plant, and resistance to pod borers and phytophthora stem blight (Upadhyaya et al, 2013;Singh et al, 2020a). The yield-attributing genes from C. scarabaeoides have been successfully introgressed into the Pigeonpea (Singh et al, 2018a;Sharma et al, 2019;Singh et al 2020a;Singh et al 2021a). The wild accession of pigeonpea also served as the important source of male sterility genes.…”