Evaluation Of Genetic Diversity In Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Germplasm

The paper aimed to estimate the degree of genetic diversity in 42 chickpea genotypes. The research was carried out between 2016-2017 in the experimental field of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest and it is based on the multivariate analysis of several quantitative and qualitative traits. By developing the dendrogram using the AHC algorithm (Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering), the varieties and lines tested have been divided into two large groups, depending on the TSW (thousand seed weight), the colour and shape of seeds. It was estimated that 73.81% belong to the Desi type and 26.19% to the Kabuli type. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a significant correlation between the number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per plant. The yield was significantly correlated with the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and TSW (thousand seed weight). The first principal component of the PCA analysis, accountable for a 45.5% share of the total variation between genotypes, has been shown to be an association between the following variables: number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and seeds yield per plant. These findings can provide practical information for the selection of parental material and thus assist in planning breeding strategies.