2 NEW TRAITS - OPEN FLOWER AND SMALL LEAF IN CHICKPEA (CICER-ARIETINUM L.)

Two new traits - open flower and small leaf in chickpea are discussed. Open flower, a natural mutant in a good agronomic background is repor ted for the first time, small leaf trait has been reported earlier, an d has now been studied by breeders. Both useful traits were found to b e monogenic recessive. The joint F-2 segregation data revealed no link age between flower colour and flower type, but flower type and leaf si ze showed some linkage. Open flower could contribute to a higher rate of cross pollination and utilization of heterosis. The small leaf allo ws light to penetrate the crop canopy, and could be useful in designin g a physiologically efficient plant type in chickpea.