MAGIC lines in chickpea: development and exploitation of genetic diversity

In chickpea a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population was developed using eight parents that are improved varieties and widely adaptable breeding lines. The main objective to enhance the genetic diversity bring novel alleles for developing superior varieties. development scheme involved sequence of 28 two-way, 14 four-way 7 eight-way crosses, followed by bulking final F1 plants. From F2 onwards single plants were grown as progenies F8 seed descent method. finally 1136 MAGIC lines phenotyped under rainfed (RF) irrigated (IR) conditions 2 years (2013 2014) normal season, one year heat stress (HS) condition (summer-2014) in field estimate created among these Under RF-2014, RF-2013, IR-2014, IR-2013 S-2014 seasons 46, 62, 83, 50 61 showed significantly higher grain yield than best parent, respectively. Similarly, 23 19 common identified RF IR over two no line between RF/IR HS conditions. Preliminary evaluation large variation flowering time (34–69 days), maturity (80–120 plant height (23.3–65 cm), (179–4554 kg/ha), harvest index (0.10–0.77) 100 weight (10–45 g) Several genotypes with check identified. These provide useful germplasm source diverse allelic combinations global community.