Selection of High Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia Nodulating Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) for Semi-Arid Tunisia

Inoculation of grain legumes with rhizobia may improve biological N₂ fixation and crop yield. However, drought, high temperature and soil salinity constrain legume root-nodule formation and function. Here, two rhizobial strains nodulating Tunisian chickpea, Mesorhizobium ciceri strain CMG 6 and Mesorhizobium mediterraneum strain CTM 226 originating from semi-arid regions, were selected for their symbiotic performance and their salt stress tolerance (3 % NaCl). Both strains were then examined as inoculants in different soils and field conditions. Field experiments were conducted in four sites using four chickpea cultivars. Rhizobia occupying nodules in non-inoculated plots were isolated and characterized using 16S rDNA typing; to examine nodule occupancy by the inoculant strains we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism of 16S rDNA gene and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR. The inoculant strains gave a significant increase in nodule number, shoot dry weight and grain yield in all the experimented fields for the four cultivars used, even in the non-irrigated soils. The improvement in plant production was equal to or better than nitrogen fertilization. Moreover, the monitoring of the nodule occupancy showed that inoculant strains competed well in the native populations of rhizobia. These results suggest that nodulation and yield of chickpea can be improved by inoculation with competitive and salt-tolerant rhizobia and is economically promising to increase chickpea production in water-limited regions.     

Estimation of Outcrossing Rate in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Sown in Autumn

Gene flow via outcrossing from transgenic plants to relatives will be one of the most important concerns to grow of the transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in European Union (EU). This report is therefore focused on spontaneous outcrossing rate in chickpea. A total of 39 kabuli type mutants with white flower and one desi type with pink flower were grown to estimate spontaneous outcrossing rate. Outcrossing rate ranged from 0.0 to 1.25% in mutant materials. Since labelling threshold for transgenic contamination in food and feed in European Union (EU) is 0.9%, outcrossing rate of 1.25% is higher than threshold of 0.9% in EU, and this result suggests that cultivation of transgenic chickpea will be under high risk to be contaminated chickpeas in neighbourhood fields.     

Low Temperature Effects during Seed Filling on Chickpea Genotypes (Cicer arietinum L.): Probing Mechanisms affecting Seed Reserves and Yield

Chickpea is sensitive to cold conditions (<15 °C), particularly at its reproductive phase and consequently it experiences significant decrease in the seed yield. The information about the effects of cold stress on chickpea during the seed filling phase is lacking. Moreover, the underlying metabolic reasons associated with the low temperature injury are largely unknown in the crop. Hence, the present study was undertaken with the objectives: (i) to find out the possible mechanisms leading to low temperature damage during the seed filling and (ii) to investigate the relative response of the microcarpa (Desi) and the macrocarpa (Kabuli) chickpea types along with elucidation of the possible mechanisms governing the differential cold sensitivity at this stage. At the time of initiation of the seed filling (pod size ∼1 cm), a set of plants growing under warm conditions of the glasshouse (temperature: 17/28 ± 2 °C as average night and day temperature) was subjected to cold conditions of the field (2.3/11.7 ± 2 °C as average night and day temperature), while another set was maintained under warm conditions (control). The chilling conditions resulted in the increase in electrolyte leakage, the loss of chlorophyll, the decrease in sucrose content and the reduction in water status in leaves, which occurred to a greater extent in the macrocarpa type than in the microcarpa type. The total plant weight decreased to the same level in both the chickpea types, whereas the rate and duration of the seed filling, seed size, seed weight, pods per plant and harvest index decreased greatly in the macrocarpa type. The stressed seeds of both the chickpea types experienced marked reduction in the accumulation of starch, proteins, fats, crude fibre, protein fractions (albumins, globulins, prolamins and glutelins) with a larger decrease in the macrocarpa type. The accumulation of sucrose and the activity levels of the enzymes like starch synthase, sucrose synthase and invertase decreased significantly in the seeds because of the chilling, indicating impairment in sucrose import. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and iron as well as several amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, valine and histidine) were lowered significantly in the stressed seeds. These components were limited to a higher extent in the macrocarpa type indicating higher cold sensitivity of this type.     

Inheritance of Seed Coat Thickness in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and its Evolutionary Implications

The desi and kabuli chickpeas are characterized, among other things, by their seed coats being thicker in the desi than in the kabuli type. The inheritance of seed coat thickness, and its relation to flower colour and seed size, was studied. Seed coat thickness exhibits monogenic inheritance, the thin kabuli seed coat being the recessive character. Linkage was found between seed coat thickness and flower colour, the recombinant fraction being 0.19. No relationship was found between seed coat thickness and seed size. The role of these characters in the evolution of the chickpea is discussed.     

Evaluation of Yield Criteria for Drought and Heat Resistance in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is usually grown under rainfed, rather than irrigated conditions, where drought accompanied by heat stress is a major growth constraint. The aim of this study was to select chickpea genotypes having resistance to drought/heat stress and to identify the most appropriate selection criteria for this. A total of 377 chickpea accessions were sown 2 months later than normal for the Antalya region (Turkey) to increase their exposure to the drought and high‐temperature conditions of a typical summer in this part of the world. Interspersed between every 10 test genotypes as benchmark genotypes, were plants of the two known genotypes ILC 3279 (drought‐susceptible) and ILC 8617 (drought‐susceptible), while ICC 4958 (known drought‐resistant) and ICCV 96029 (known very early, double‐podded) were also sown for confirmation. All plants were subsequently screened for drought and heat stress resistance. Soon after the two known susceptible genotypes had died, evaluations of the entire trial were made visually on a scale from ‘1’ (free from drought/heat damage) to ‘9’ (all plants died from drought/heat). Yield loss in many of the test genotypes and in the two known susceptible genotypes (ILC 3279 and ILC 8617) rose to 100 %. The desi chickpeas (smaller, dark seeds) were generally more drought‐ and heat‐resistant than the kabuli chickpeas (larger, pale seeds). Two desi chickpeas, ACC 316 and ACC 317, were selected for drought and heat (>40 °C) resistance under field conditions. Seed weight was the trait least affected by adverse environmental conditions and having the highest heritability, and it should be used in early breeding selections. When breeding drought‐ and heat‐resistant chickpeas, path and multivariate analyses showed that days to the first flowering and maturity to escape terminal drought and heat stresses should be evaluated ahead of many other phenological traits, and harvest index, biological yield and pods per plant for increased yield should also be considered.     

Effect of Irrigation on Winter-Sown Chickpea in a Mediterranean Environment*

In the dry Mediterranean environments of the West Asia and North Africa region, irrigation is frequently used to supplement rainfall to increase crop productivity and yield stability. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an important pulse crop of the region, often suffers from drought and can benefit from such a practice. To investigate the response of chickpea to irrigation, experiments were conducted in the field at Tel Hadya, Syria, from 1985 to 1988 using 24 improved chickpea genotypes sown in winter. Irrigation scheduling was done using the daily water balance computed from rainfall and pan evaporation data. Yearly rainfall was 316, 358, and 504 mm and supplemental irrigation amount was 130, 120, and 80 mm in 1985–86, 1986–87, and 1987–88, respectively. Irrigation increased seed yield by 916 kg ha^?1 (44.0%) over the 3-year period. Irrigation requirement for chickpea coincided with flowering and seed development period. The top 10 highest-yielding genotypes under irrigated conditions were ILC 464, ILC 1272, ILC 237, ILC 613, ILC 95, ILC 4291, ILC 142, ILC 147, ILC 295, and ILC 3256. Their mean seed yields ranged from 3877 to 3208 kg ha^?1. Among these four genotypes, ILC 464, ILC 1272, ILC 3256, and ILC 4291 with mean seed yields of 3877, 3726, 3208, and 3266 kg ha^?1, respectively, were with predictable response to favourable conditions. Aboveground biomass contributed 49% of the total increase in seed yield from irrigation followed by plant height (26%) and early maturity (16%). These results indicate that it may be possible to breed chickpea for improved response to irrigation, and irrigation can enhance the yields of winter-sown chickpea grown in the lowland Mediterranean drylands.     

Salt Stress Delayed Flowering and Reduced Reproductive Success of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), A Response Associated with Na+ Accumulation in Leaves

Salinity is known to reduce chickpea yields in several regions of the world. Although ion toxicity associated with salinity leads to yield reductions in a number of other crops, its role in reducing yields in chickpea growing in saline soils is unclear. The purpose of this study was to (i) identify the phenological and yield parameters associated with salt stress tolerance and sensitivity in chickpea and (ii) identify any pattern of tissue ion accumulation that could relate to salt tolerance of chickpea exposed to saline soil in an outdoor pot experiment. Fourteen genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were used to study yield parameters, of which eight were selected for ion analysis after being grown in soil treated with 0 and 80 mm NaCl. Salinity delayed flowering and the delay was greater in sensitive than tolerant genotypes under salt stress. Filled pod and seed numbers, but not seed size, were associated with seed yield in saline conditions, suggesting that salinity impaired reproductive success more in sensitive than tolerant lines. Of the various tissues measured for concentrations of Cl^?, Na⁺ and K⁺, higher seed yields in saline conditions were positively correlated with higher K⁺ concentration in seeds at the mid‐filling stage (R² = 0.55), a higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in the laminae of fully expanded young leaves (R² = 0.50), a lower Na⁺ concentration in old green leaves (R² = 0.50) and a higher Cl^? concentration in mature seeds. The delay in flowering was associated with higher concentrations of Na⁺ in the laminae of fully expanded young leaves (R² = 0.61) and old green leaves (R² = 0.51). We conclude that although none of the ions appeared to have any toxic effect, Na⁺ accumulation in leaves was associated with delayed flowering that in turn could have played a role in the lower reproductive success in the sensitive lines.     

鹰嘴豆研究的文献计量分析

鹰嘴豆以其特有的资源价值被研究者广泛关注,以信息计量的方法对其研究的时空及内容的变化进行分析,可以从一个新的视角了解研究的演进过程与发展态势。重点利用专利分析的基本方法与社会网络分析的方法,对近百年的专利文献与WOS核心集论文进行了文献计量分析。结果表明,SCI核心期刊文献的时空分布,反映出亚洲、美洲、欧洲、澳洲都在开展相关研究,并且都有较长的研究历史,中国的研究起步较晚,但1999年以来发展较快。研究内容在不断丰富,领域交叉的演化在不断发展,新的研究领域与热点也不断出现。相关专利文献的分析结果表明,中国后来居上,地处鹰嘴豆产量大区新疆的研发机构专利量增长快速。鹰嘴豆研发已经形成了一个大的学科网络结构,研究分布的学科类别超过140个;近年来,分子标记和遗传多样性受到特别关注;研究论文在国家间形成了广泛的合作网络;专利数量增长快速,但国家间合作度不高,与研究论文形成明显的反差。     

Shading,Defoliation and Light Enrichment Effects on Chickpea in Northern Latitudes

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has an indeterminate growth nature, and the plant canopy with an improved light environment during critical growth stages may increase biomass (BM) production and improve crop yield. This study examined (i) the effects of shading, light enrichment and defoliation applied at various growth stages on BM and seed yield of chickpea in northern latitudes; and (ii) the difference between cultivars with fern‐ vs. unfoliate‐leaf type in responding to the altered canopy light environments. Field studies were conducted at Saskatoon and Swift Current, Saskatchewan in 2004 and 2005. Different light environments were created by 50 % defoliation at vegetative growth and at first flower, 50 % shading from vegetative growth to first flower, and two light enrichment treatments initiated at the first flower and pod formation stages. The 50 % shade treatment prior to flowering significantly decreased harvest index (HI) and seed yield. Light enrichments increased seed yield only one of three location‐years (the fourth site excluded because of disease damage). Defoliation at vegetative growth or first flower had a marginal effect on seed yield, largely as a result of the regrowth of vegetative tissues compensating for the lost plant tissues. The cultivar CDC Yuma (fern‐leaf type) exhibited consistently greater maximum light interception (LI), cumulative intercepted radiation, HI and seed yield than the cultivar Sanford (unifoliate‐leaf type) across all location‐years. Selective use of chickpea cultivars with improved morphological traits such as fern‐leaf type will likely improve LI and increase crop yield for chickpea in northern latitudes. Moreover, optimized crop management practices should be adopted to ensure that chickpea be grown under conditions with minimum shading before flowering and optimum light environment within the canopy especially during reproductive growth period.     

Modelling Biomass Accumulation and Partitioning in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Quantitative information regarding biomass accumulation and partitioning in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is limited or inconclusive. The objective of this study was to obtain baseline values for extinction coefficient (K_S), radiation use efficiency (RUE, g MJ^?1) and biomass partitioning coefficients of chickpea crops grown under well‐watered conditions. The stability of these parameters during the crop life cycle and under different environmental and growth conditions, caused by season and sowing date and density, were also evaluated. Two field experiments, each with three sowing dates and four plant densities, were conducted during 2002–2004. Crop leaf area index, light interception and crop biomass were measured between emergence and maturity. A K_S value of 0.5 was obtained. An average RUE of 1 g MJ^?1 was obtained. Plant density had no effect on RUE, but some effects of temperature were detected. There was no effect of solar radiation or vapour pressure deficit on RUE when RUE values were corrected for the effect of temperature. RUE was constant during the whole crop cycle. A biphasic pattern was found for biomass partitioning between leaves and stems before first‐seed stage. At lower levels of total dry matter, 54 % of biomass produced was allocated to leaves, but at higher levels of total dry matter, i.e. under favourable and prolonged conditions for vegetative growth, this portion decreased to 28 %. During the period from first‐pod to first‐seed, 60 % of biomass produced went to stems, 27 % to pods and 13 % to leaves. During the period from first‐seed to maturity, 83 % of biomass was partitioned to pods. It was concluded that using fixed partitioning coefficients after first‐seed are not as effective as they are before this stage. Environmental conditions (temperature and solar radiation) and plant density did not affect partitioning of biomass.     

Dinitrogen Fixation by Winter Chickpea Across Scales in Waterlogged Soil in a Mediterranean Climate

Studies on N₂ fixation by grain legumes during periods of winter waterlogging prone Mediterranean regions have rarely been performed across scales. Here, we quantified the spatial variability of N₂ fixation by rain‐fed chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at the field‐ and micro‐scales (0.15 m spacing) after waterlogging during the vegetative growth phase in the winter. We also determined effects of tillage (standard and minimum) and crop and soil variables on N₂ fixation in water stressed conditions. After waterlogging, yield was greatly reduced but there were no visible signs of water stress or tillage effects on N₂ fixation. At the field scale, percent N derived from N₂ fixation (%Ndfa) ranged from 51 to 93 % and was related to the amount of soil‐derived N in the plant. Total grain N did not increase when N₂ fixation increased and the amount of N derived from the soil was replaced with fixed N. In contrast, %Ndfa at the micro‐scale, ranging between 0 to 72 %, was primarily related to yield and total plant N whereas available soil N or any of the other measured soil properties were not significant predictors of %Ndfa. Total N in the grain increased solely due to N₂ fixation as the contribution from soil N remained constant. Although %Ndfa had a nearly pure nugget variance across the scales, total N derived from N₂ fixation (gNdfa) showed a relatively high level of spatial correlation. The range of available soil N pools was likely different at the two scales, leading to differences in the responses of chickpea N₂ fixation to available soil N.     

Chickpea molecular breeding: New tools and concepts

Summary Chickpea is a cool season grain legume of exceptionally high nutritive value and most versatile food use. It is mostly grown under rain fed conditions in arid and semi-arid areas around the world. Despite growing demand and high yield potential, chickpea yield is unstable and productivity is stagnant at unacceptably low levels. Major yield increases could be achieved by development and use of cultivars that resist/tolerate abiotic and biotic stresses. In recent years the wide use of early maturing cultivars that escape drought stress led to significant increases in chickpea productivity. In the Mediterranean region, yield could be increased by shifting the sowing date from spring to winter. However, this is hampered by the sensitivity of the crop to low temperatures and the fungal pathogen Ascochyta rabiei. Drought, pod borer (Helicoverpa spp.) and the fungus Fusarium oxysporum additionally reduce harvests there and in other parts of the world. Tolerance to rising salinity will be a future advantage in many regions. Therefore, chickpea breeding focuses on increasing yield by pyramiding genes for resistance/tolerance to the fungi, to pod borer, salinity, cold and drought into elite germplasm. Progress in breeding necessitates a better understanding of the genetics underlying these traits. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) would allow a better targeting of the desired genes. Genetic mapping in chickpea, for a long time hampered by the little variability in chickpea’s genome, is today facilitated by highly polymorphic, co-dominant microsatellite-based markers. Their application for the genetic mapping of traits led to inter-laboratory comparable maps. This paper reviews the current situation of chickpea genome mapping, tagging of genes for ascochyta blight, fusarium wilt resistance and other traits, and requirements for MAS. Conventional breeding strategies to tolerate/avoid drought and chilling effects at flowering time, essential for changing from spring to winter sowing, are described. Recent approaches and future prospects for functional genomics of chickpea are discussed.     

Antibiosis mechanism of resistance to pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera in wild relatives of chickpea

The pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, is one of the major constraints to chickpea production worldwide. The levels of resistance to pod borer in the cultivated chickpea germplasm are moderate, and therefore, we studied the reaction of 32 accessions of wild relatives of chickpea for resistance to H. armigera under greenhouse conditions. Accessions ICC 17257, IG 70002, IG 70003, IG 70012, (Cicer bijugum), IG 69948 (C. pinnatifidum), IG 69979 (C. cuneatum), IG 70032, IG 70033, IG 70038, and IG 72931 (C. judaicum) showed lower leaf feeding, a drastic reduction in larval weight, and poor host suitability index at the vegetative and/or flowering stages of crop growth as compared to the cultivated chickpeas. Based on percentage pods damaged by 5th day (< 52% pods damaged compared to 90% pods damaged in Annigeri), and percentage weight gain by the larvae (< 35% weight gain compared to 366% weight gain on ICCV 2); accessions IG 69979 (C. cuneatum), IG 70003, IG 70022, IG 70016, IG 70013, IG 70012, IG 70010, IG 70001, IG 70018, and IG 70002 (C. bijugum), and IG 72953 (C. reticulatum) showed high levels of resistance to H. armigera. Larvae of H. armigera weighed < 50 mg when reared on C. pinnatifidum (IG6 9948 and IG 70039), and C. judaicum (IG 72931) compared to 301.95 mg on C. arietinum (ICCC 37 – the cultivated chickpea). Larval weights on many accessions of the wild relatives of chickpea were much lower than those on the cultivated chickpeas, indicating the existence of different mechanisms of resistance to H. armigera. There was no pupation and adult emergence when the larvae were reared on accessions of C. pinnatifidum (IG 69948 and IG 70039), and C. judaicum (IG 69980, IG 70032, IG 70033 and IG 72931). The wild relatives of chickpea showing high levels of antibiosis to H. armigera can be used to introgress diverse resistance genes into cultivated chickpea to increase the levels and diversify the basis of resistance to this insect. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Types and components of resistance to Fusarium head blight of wheat

Resistance of wheat to Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum was identified in natural epidemics in 1985 and 1987 as well after artificial inoculations (1983–1988 and 1984–1987). Out of 25 genotypes tested, five were identified with no significant difference in head blight scores, but differing significantly in yield after artificial inoculation, i.e. tolerance differences were detected at different resistance levels. Some genotypes that were similar in yield or head blight scores differed in seed infection severity. Genotypes with awns were more susceptible to head blight when tested under natural epidemic condition in the field; but this trait did not influence head blight severity in artificial inoculations. Dwarf genotypes were more severely infected by head blight than tall genotypes under natural conditions, but genotypes of different plant height classes were similarly susceptible after artificial inoculations. In the early generations of a breeding programme resistance measured by visual evaluation of artificial inoculation is the most important way to screen. If selection of dwarf and awned genotypes cannot be avoided, the higher susceptibility caused by awns and dwarfness under natural epidemic conditions can be decreased by a higher level of physiological resistance, as variability in physiological resistance is available. In later generations, traits like percentage of seed infection or tolerance can be identified by additionally measuring yield reduction. Stability of disease reaction appears to be connected with resistance level, the most resistant genotypes are the most stable, and the most susceptible ones tend to have more unstable reactions in different epidemic conditions.     

Genetic Analysis of Morpho-Physiological Traits in Chickpea

The present study was conducted to investigate the genetic inheritance of morpho-physiological leaf traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experimental material comprised six generations, viz., two inbred parents, ‘T88’ and ‘Bold Seeded’, having contrasting leaf traits, and their derived F₁, F₂ and backcross of F₁ to either parent (B₁ and B₂). The experiment was randomized complete block design with three replications. Genetic parameters were estimated by generation mean analysis using all the six generations. Data were collected on individual plants within each family just before flowering on leaflet area (LA), number of leaflets per leaf (LL), rachis length (RL), and leaflet density (LD), which was calculated as number of leaflets per unit length of rachis. A simple additive-dominance model was found to be adequate to describe the inheritance of LL and LA, while dominance × dominance (i.e. [1]) and additive × dominance (i.e. [i]) interactions were also significant for RL and LD, respectively. Improvement or seed yield per plant may result from selection for LA by improving both RL and LL. Leaflet area may be included in the ongoing selection schemes, as a supplementary trait to increase the speed of improvement in seed yield per plant. Lanceolate leaflet shape was observed to be monogenically dominant over obovate leaflet shape, and segregated independently from purple/white flower color.     

Dry Matter Production and Productivity as Influenced by Staggered Sowing of Mustard Intercropped at Different Row Ratios with Chickpea

In a 2‐year experiment on Typic Ustochrept soils of the North Plain Zone of India, the effect of different row ratios (3 : 1, 6 : 2, 4 : 1 and 8 : 2) and staggered sowing of mustard (simultaneous and 15 days later) was studied in intercropping of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Nodule number, dry weight, grain yield, protein content and yield were higher in monocrop chickpea compared with intercropping. Among row ratios, except for protein content in grain, all the above parameters were significantly higher in the 4 : 1 intercropping of chickpea + mustard. Similarly, delayed sowing of mustard by 15 days also gave higher plant dry weight (1.80–2.36 g plant^?1), nodule number (0.41–1.56 and 0.5–3.0 at 55‐ and 70‐day stages, respectively), protein yield (63 kg ha^?1), grain yield (290 kg ha^?1) and biological yield (1104 kg ha^?1) than sowing with chickpea. Widening the row ratio and pairing of the rows of mustard were also found to be beneficial in increasing chickpea growth and yield. Like chickpea, sowing of mustard as a monocrop gave higher growth and yield. Delayed sowing by 15 days reduced the growth and yield of mustard drastically. Productivity, measured in terms of land equivalent ratio, was higher for intercropping of chickpea and mustard in the 4 : 1 row ratio than for sowing of chickpea and mustard in sole stands. Interestingly, the land equivalent ratio was also higher in the simultaneously sown crop than for staggered sowing.     

Genetic basis of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) resistance and grain yield in desi and Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under unprotected conditions

A series of half-diallel crosses involving early, medium and late maturity desi and kabuli type chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes with stable resistance to Helicoverpa pod borer, along with the parents, were evaluated at two locations in India to understand the inheritance of pod borer resistance and grain yield. Inheritance of resistance to pod borer and grain yield was different in desi and kabuli types. In desi type chickpea, the additive component of genetic variance was important in early maturity and dominance component was predominant in medium maturity group, while in the late maturity group, additive as well as dominance components were equally important in the inheritance of pod borer resistance. Both dominant and recessive genes conferring pod borer resistance seemed equally frequent in the desi type parental lines of medium maturity group. However, dominant genes were in overall excess in the parents of early and late maturity groups. In the kabuli medium maturity group, parents appeared to be genetically similar, possibly due to dispersion of genes conferring pod borer resistance and susceptibility, while their F₁s were significantly different for pod borer damage. The association of genes conferring pod borer resistance and susceptibility in the parents could be attributed to the similarity of parents as well as their F₁s for pod borer damage in kabuli early and late maturity groups. Grain yield was predominantly under the control of dominant gene action irrespective of the maturity groups in desi chickpea. In all the maturity groups, dominant and recessive genes were in equal frequency among the desi parental lines. Dominant genes, which tend to increase or decrease grain yield are more or less present in equal frequency in parents of the early maturity group, while in medium and late maturity groups, they were comparatively in unequal frequency in desi type. Unlike in desi chickpea, differential patterns of genetic components were observed in kabuli chickpea. While the dominant genetic component was important in early and late maturity group, additive gene action was involved in the inheritance of grain yield in medium duration group in kabuli chickpea. The dominant and recessive genes controlling grain yield are asymmetrically distributed in early and medium maturity groups in kabuli chickpea. The implications of the inheritance pattern of pod borer resistance and grain yield are discussed in the context of strategies to enhance pod borer resistance and grain yield in desi and kabuli chickpea cultivars.     

Phosphorus Fertilization and Fungal Inoculations Affected the Physiology,Phosphorus Uptake and Growth of Spring Wheat Under Rainfed Conditions on the Canadian Prairies

Some fungal species have been shown to improve plant growth under drought conditions and to increase plant phosphorus (P) uptake from the soil. How moisture limitation, P availability and fungal inoculation interact to affect plant physiology and growth is, however, poorly understood. Here, we studied the combined effects of fungal (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or Penicillium spp.) inoculations and phosphorus (P) fertilization (0, 45 and 90 kg ha^?1) on the net rate of photosynthesis, water‐use efficiency, P uptake and growth of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Superb) under field conditions at two locations (Castor and Vegreville) in Alberta, Canada. Both fungal inoculation and P application increased the rate of photosynthesis. Under the same P level, AMF inoculation had a greater positive effect on the rate of photosynthesis than Penicillium inoculation. The AMF inoculation increased the instantaneous water‐use efficiency (WUEi) of plants at Castor, but not at Vegreville. Leaf carbon isotope discrimination (CID, Δ¹³C) increased with the rate of P application but was not affected by fungal inoculations. Phosphorus concentrations of stem and seed increased with both fungal inoculation and P application irrespective of location, with AMF inoculation showing the largest effects. The interaction between P addition and fungal inoculation was significant for stem P concentration in Vegreville. Both fungal inoculation and P application increased the leaf area index (LAI), biomass production and grain yield at both locations. Under the same P level, AMF inoculation had a greater positive effect on LAI, biomass production and grain yields than Penicillium inoculation. Morphological characters such as spike length and kernels/spike were also improved by fungal inoculation and P application at both locations. We conclude that the studied sites were deficient in P availability, and both fungal inoculation and P application improved P uptake and crop productivity, while the effect of fungal inoculation on water‐use efficiency was site specific.     

Interactive Effects of Salinity and Biological Nitrogen Fixation on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Growth

The effect of salinity on the nodulation, N-fixation and plant growth of selected chickpea- Rhizobium symbionts was studied- Eighteen chickpea rhizobial strains were evaluated for their growth in a broth culture at salinity levels of 0 to 20 dS m⁻¹ of NaCl + Na₂SO₄. Variability in response was high. Salinity generally reduced the lag phase and/or slowed the log phase of multiplication of Rhizobium. Nine chickpea genotypes were also evaluated for salt tolerance during germination and early seedling growth in Petri dishes at five salinity levels (0–32 dS m⁻¹). Chickpea genotypes ILC-205 and ILC-1919 were the most salt-tolerant genotypes. The selected rhizobial strains and chickpea cultivars were combined in a pot experiment aimed at investigating the interactive effect of salinity (3, 6 and 9 dS m⁻¹) and N source (symbiosis vs. inorganic N) on plant growth. Symbiotic plants were more sensitive to salinity than plants fed mineral N. Significant reductions in nodule dry weight (59.8 %) and N fixation (63.5 %) were evident even at the lowest salinity level of 3 dS m-¹. Although nodules were observed in inoculated plants grown at 6 dS m-¹, N-fixation was completely inhibited. The findings indicate that symbiosis is more salt-sensitive than both Rhizobium and the host plant, probably due to a breakdown in one of the processes involved in symbiotic-N fixation. Improvement of salinity tolerance in field grown chickpea may be achieved by application of sufficient amounts of mineral nitrogen.     

Effect of Soil and Foliar Fertilization on Inoculated and Uninoculated Soybeans

Two experiments of soil N-fertilization and Rhizobium inoculation were conducted in 1981 and 1982 at Giza, Egypt. Soybean was sprayed with a commercial micronutrients mixture, and with urea.
In the first experiment, soil N-fertilization 0, 142.8 and 214.2 kg N/hectare were applied to uninoculated plants, whereas, in the second one, local inoculum was used alone or along with addition of a starter dose of N (47.6 kg N/hectare).
Urea applications were at pod filling period (R₄, R₅ and R₆ stages), whereas, micronutrients mixture was applied at 25 days from planting.
Plant dry weight, leaf area/plant, plant height, pod and seed number/plant, seed weight/plant, seed yield and crude seed protein content increased significantly with nitrogen application to uninoculated soybean plants; whereas the starter dose of N had no significant effect on any of these traits under the inoculated soybean plants.
Foliar application of micronutrients caused significant increases in plant DW, LA, pod and seed number/plant, seed index and seed yield of fertilized and inoculated plants.
Foliar application of urea, to inoculated and uninoculated plants, caused significant increments in plant dry weight, 1A, seed protein content and particular seed index and seed yield.