Evaluation of physiologic and metabolic indicators of drought resistance in chickpea

Abstract

In order to evaluate drought tolerant genotypes in chickpea using agronomic, physiologic and molecular indicators a factorial experiment with completely randomized design (CRD) was conducted under water stress and non-stress conditions. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences for prolin content (PC), total chlorophyll content (TCC), chlorophyll a (Cha), chlorophyll b (Chb) and soluble sugar (SS) expressing genetic variability and possibility of selecting resistant genotypes under drought stress condition. Mean comparison classified the genotypes for yield and drought tolerance criteria in different groups. Maximum stress yield (Ys) and yield potential (Yp) was attributed to accession 8. According to 3 dimensional plot between stress tolerance index (STI) and multiple selection index (MSI) the most drought tolerant genotype with high Yp and Ys was identified as number 8 (X96TH41K4) (group A). Multiple selection index which discriminate drought tolerant genotypes based on all physiologic and metabolic indices introduced the most drought tolerant genotype as number 8.