Quantifying Genetic Advance of Kabuli Chickpea Varieties for Yield and Yield Related Traits in Ethiopia

Fourteen Kabuli chickpea varieties released since 1974 were evaluated in 2017 cropping season at Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, and Jari stations to determine genetic progress in yield and yield associated traits of Kabuli chickpea varieties. The varieties were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The average rate of increase in grain yield per year over the past 42 years period was 22.35kgha-1yr-1 with a relative genetic gain of 1.04% year-1, which was not significantly different from zero. The regression of hundred seed weight against the years of release showed significant increase for the last 42 years of improvement in Ethiopia. It showed an annual rate of genetic gain of 0.56 g yr-1 with a relative annual genetic gain of 4.37%. Number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod revealed a significant decreasing trend over the past 42 years, which could be a reciprocate to the increased seed size. Plant height, days to flowering, and days to maturity showed non-significant trend in the current study. Grain yield showed non-significant positive association with plant height, days to flowering, number of pods per plant and non-significant negative association with days to maturity, number of seed per pod and hundred seed weight. Hundred seed weight was positively and significantly correlated with days to maturity but negatively and significantly correlated with number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod. Therefore, the Kabuli chickpea improvement program needs special attention to compliment seed size and grain yield by using integrated breeding approach to make rapid progress in developing superior Kabuli chickpea varieties. Keywords: Kabuli chickpea, Grain yield, hundred seed weight, Genetic gain DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-15-04 Publication date:August 31st 202