Seed protein fractions and amino acid composition in gram (Cicer arietinum).

Six chickpea strains were analysed for their protein content and various protein fractions. The protein content ranged from 20.9-25.27%. Albumin, globulin, prolamin and glutelin contents ranged from 8.39-12.31%; 53.44-60.29%; 3.12-6.89% and 19.38-24.40% respectively. Salt soluble proteins (albumin + globulin) and globulins resolved into 19-23 bands whereas albumin proteins resolved into 30-34 bands. The molecular weights of various polypeptides ranged from 10-91 kD. Amino acid analysis of total proteins revealed that glutamic acid was present in maximum concentration followed by aspartic acid and arginine. Just like other pulse proteins, chick pea proteins were also found deficient in sulphur containing amino acids.

Inheritance of seed yield and quality traits in peas (Pisum sativum L.).

A half diallel analysis involving nine cultivars showed that additive as well as non-additive gene effects were important for the inheritance of seed yield per plant, 100-seed weights, protein content and potassium per cent. For remaining traits non-additive genetic components were important. Overdominance was observed for all traits except for 100-seed weight, which expressed partial dominance. Parents PMR-T10, EC21857, EC109182, T163 and EC109189 were good general combiners for seed yield, seed weight and quality traits. In general there was a good relationship between per se performance and the gca effects of the parents for all traits. Cross combinations such as LMR8 x EC109182,LMR8 x PMR-T10,LMR8 x EC21857,PMRT10 x EC21857 and P23 x EC21857 were found promising. The seed yield was positively correlated with other quality traits. Protein had a positive correlation with methionine and phosphorus. All the values of correlation co-efficients were non-significant except for yield with potassium, 100-seed weight and protein with methionine, indicating that yield and quality attributes can be improved simultaneously by simple selection procedures.

Early generation yield testing versus visual selection in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Four F3 populations of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were simultaneously evaluated for yield in an F3 yield trial and in single plant progeny rows. Ten high yielding, 10 low yielding and 10 randomly sampled lines, along with 10 lines visually selected for yield from the progeny rows, were retained for further evaluation. The lines from each of the four selection groups in each population were bulked and evaluated in a replicated yield trial at three locations and four environments. The bulk of visually selected lines was not superior in yield to the bulk of randomly sampled lines at all locations. The present results indicate that an early generation yield testing selection procedure is more efficient than visual selection for yield improvements in chickpea.