Vol.:(0123456789) Discover Agriculture (2024) 2:65 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-024-00063-w Discover Agriculture Research Genetic architecture of yield and yield contributing traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) A. C. Deb 1  · M. T. Hasan 1 Received: 4 May 2024 / Accepted: 22 August 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 OPEN Abstract Genetic architecture of yield and yield contributing characters of five crosses in chickpea were performed by genera- tion mean analysis. Non-significant χ 2 values were noted for plant weight at harvest (PWH), number of pods per plant (NPd/P) and number of seeds per plant (NS/P) in cross-2; for number of secondary branches at first flower (NSBFF) and number of secondary branches at maximum flower (NSBMF) in cross-3 and for number of primary branches at maxi- mum flower (NPBMF) in cross-4. Among these, PWH in cross-2; NSBFF and NSBMF in cross-3 and NPBMF in cross-4 were also non-significant regarding C and D scales. Non-significant scale coupled with non-significant χ 2 values indicated only additive-dominance relationship for those characters and crosses that would likely be helpful in doing successful breeding plan easily for the development of potential lines in chickpea. Gene effects viz., additive [d], dominance [h], additive × additive [i] and dominance × dominance [l] were significant for different crosses and characters indicating involvement of additive, dominance, additive × additive and dominance × dominance gene interactions in the control of these traits. Most of the studied characters exhibited duplicate type of epistasis therefore, recurrent selection for these traits is suggested. Effective factor (K 1 ) was less than one for all the characters and crosses indicating minimum one group of gene controlled the characters. Both broad (h 2 b ) and narrow (h 2 n ) sense heritability in majority cases were found to be high which indicates that selection for high heritability showing traits is likely to be effective. Mid-parent (MP) and better-parent (BP) heterosis found to be non-significant in maximum cases. All the characters and crosses showed non- significant inbreeding depression (ID) indicating a good sign for further genetic work. Keywords Additive-dominance model · Gene action · Effective factors · Inbreeding depression · Chickpea 1 Introduction Pulses as nutritionally rich food, play an important role in improving the overall value of cereal based diets for low and medium income group of the people. To meet the dietary requirements particularly for the poorer section of the society, to whom animal protein is less accessible pulse, is an ideal crop. Pulses when combined with cereals provide a nutrition- ally balanced amino acid composition with a ratio nearing the ideal for humans [40]. Frequent consumption of pulses is now recommended by most health organizations [29]. Among the cultivated winter pulses in Bangladesh, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with 17–24% protein, 41–50.8% carbohydrates and high percentage of other mineral nutrients and unsaturated linoleic and oleic acid is one of the most important crops for human consumption [11]. Unfortunately, despite its nutritional values, the area, yield rate and production of chickpea are relatively low and decline in the subsequent * A. C. Deb, anil_deb2001@yahoo.com; debac@ru.ac.bd; M. T. Hasan, drmthasan@gmail.com | 1 Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.