Abstract
Heat-related traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) play a crucial role in reducing the harmful effect of heat stress, as the increase in heat stress is predicted to occur in the coming years due to global warming as a result of climate change. The advantage of multiple pods per peduncle and compound (imparipinnate) leaf traits in kabuli chickpea has not been properly revealed under heat stress conditions. We, therefore, want (i) to provide insight into the advantage of multiple pods and compound leaf traits over single pod per node and simple (unifoliolate) leaf traits, and (ii) to determine the highest direct and indirect effects of agro-morphological traits on seed yield in chickpeas under rainfed conditions with prevailing heat stress. With a delayed sowing time, the plants were subjected to heat stress of more than 43 °C in flowering and pod setting stages under field conditions. According to the number of pods per node and leaf shape, plants were evaluated for yield and yield components, and were divided into six groups, namely (i) single-pod and compound leaf, (ii) single-pod and simple leaf, (iii) double-pods and compound leaf, (iv) double-pods and simple leaf, (v) multi-pods and compound leaf, and (vi) multi-pods and simple leaf. Plants with multi-pods and compound leaf traits had the highest seed yield, followed by plants with double-pods and compound leaf, while plants with single-pod and simple leaf had the lowest yield. The number of seeds and pods per plant, 100-seed weight, and leaf shape were the highest determinants of seed yield under heat stress conditions. It was concluded that multi-pods per peduncle and compound leaf traits had an obviously incontrovertible advantage in kabuli chickpeas under heat stress conditions. The plant shapes that nature has evolved for millions of years, which are mostly found in wild plants, have been proven by the current study to have a better fitness ability than plants shaped by human hands.
Highlights
Cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is divided into two different varietal groups, namely “desi” and “kabuli”, and “desi” chickpeas are portrayed with small seeds, different seeds in colors including brown, black, and green, with pinkish-purple flowers and pigmented plants, while “kabuli” chickpeas have large seeds, are cream in color, with white flowers and non-pigmented plants [1]
In May and June 2020, high temperatures above 29 ◦C were recorded for 21 days and there was a period of consecutive extreme temperatures between May 15 and May 20, while the highest temperature was recorded as 43.1 ◦C in flowering (Figure S1)
A maximum daily temperature above 25 ◦C is considered the upper threshold for heat stress in cool season crops [53], and the temperature range for optimum growth and development in chickpeas is 18–29 ◦C [1], whereas the chickpeas used in the current study were subjected to extremely high temperature in flowering and pod setting stages of as high as 43.1 ◦C (Figure 2 and Figure S1)
Summary
Cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is divided into two different varietal groups, namely “desi” and “kabuli”, and “desi” chickpeas are portrayed with small seeds, different seeds in colors including brown, black, and green, with pinkish-purple flowers and pigmented plants, while “kabuli” chickpeas have large seeds, are cream in color, with white flowers and non-pigmented plants [1]. The effect of leaf shape on yield in cultivated “kabuli” chickpeas deserves attention, as no information is available on this issue Another important trait of chickpeas is the number of flowers or pods per peduncle (node or axil), and most cultivated chickpea cultivars usually carry a single flower, and a single flower forms a single pod per peduncle [23,24]. The current study is aimed at: (i) gaining insight into the advantages of multiple pods and compound leaf traits over single pod per node and simple (unifoliolate) leaf traits, and (ii) finding out the highest direct and indirect effects of agro-morphological traits on seed yield in “kabuli” chickpeas under rainfed conditions with prevailing heat stress. Leaf types and number of ffllowers per peduncle in cultivated chickpeas. (AA) Simple-leafed aanndd ssiinnggllee--ppooddddeedd ((SSiieerrrraa)),, ((BB)) ccoommppoouunndd--lleeaaffeedd aanndd ddoouubbllee--ppooddddeedd ((CCAA 22996699)),, ((CC)) mmuullttiippiinnnnaattee-lleeaaffeedd aanndd ddoouubbllee--ppooddddeedd ((MMuuttaanntt)),, aanndd ((DD)) ssiimmppllee--lleeaaffeedd aanndd mmuullttii--ppooddddeedd
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