Study of drought stress in Kabouli Chickpea genotypes

In order to study the response of different chickpea genotypes to drought stress and determination of drought resistant genotypes, this experiment was conducted with 18 Kabouli type chickpea genotypes including of susceptible check (ILC 3279) and local check (Jam). The experiment was performed in a RBC design with three replications under rained and irrigated conditions during 2001-2 cropping season in Maragheh agricultural research station. In order
to evaluate the chickpea genotypes for drought stress, stress susceptibility index (SSI), stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), tolerance index (TOL) and mean productivity (M P) were calculated. The Jam check and ILC 1799 had the highest seed yield in both rained and irrigated conditions. The Jam check, ILC 1799 and ILC 3101 had the highest index for GMP, STI and MP respectively and were identified as drought resistant genotypes. The phenotypic correlation of GMP, STI and MP with seed yield in both stress and non-stress conditions were significant. These criteria were recommended as desirable indices for determination of resistant chickpea genotypes.