Significance and genetic diversity of SPAD chlorophyll meter reading in chickpea germplasm in the semi-arid environments

Kashiwagi, J. and Upadhyaya, H.D. and Krishnamurthy, L. (2010) Significance and genetic diversity of SPAD chlorophyll meter reading in chickpea germplasm in the semi-arid environments. Journal of Food Legumes, 23 (2). pp. 99-105.

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Abstract

The SPAD chlorophyll meter reading is a measurement of the leaf chlorophyll contents, viz., the nitrogen acquisition capability, and so it is often used to improve the yield through improved nitrogen status. The genetic diversity of the SCMR was investigated in the chickpea mini-core germplasm collection plus five control cultivars of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) (n = 216) of ICRISAT Genebank under field conditions during two consecutive post rainy seasons of 2005-06 and 2006- 07. A large genetic variability for SCMR was observed among the 216 chickpea accessions. The SCMR at 62 days after sowing was positively correlated with the seed yield under drought environments. The SCMR at the earlier or later growth stages or under irrigated environment was not related to yield under drought environment, indicating that the selections for SCMR in chickpea need to be done at about mid pod-fill stage under drought stress conditions. A known drought avoidant chickpea genotype, ‘ICC 4958’ that has prolific and deep rooting system also showed the best SCMR performances among the 216 chickpea germplasm. ‘ICC 4958’ can be a potential donor parent for both root systems and SCMR advantages. In addition, few other outstanding genotypes such as ‘ICC 1422’, ‘ICC 10945’, ‘ICC 16374’ and ‘ICC 16903’, with the higher SCMR, were also identified in this study. This genetic variability for SCMR in the mini core provides valuable baseline knowledge in chickpea for further progress on the selection and breeding for drought tolerance through nitrogen acquisition capability.

Item Type: Article
Author Affiliation: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India
Subjects: Plant Production
Crop Improvement > Genetics/Genomics
Divisions: Chickpea
Depositing User: Sandhya Gir
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2011 09:14
Last Modified: 29 Apr 2011 09:15
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/1931

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