Evaluation on performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under water stress conditionMar MarWinauthorDrought is the most common abiotic stress limiting chickpea production because chickpea is usually grown under the residual soil moisture. To identify and evaluate drought tolerant chickpea genotypes, the study was carried out with four experiments at Sebin Research Farm, Zaloke Research Farm, and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) during post-monsoon season of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The experimental materials consisted of 39 chickpea genotypes. Chickpea genotypes were significantly different for evaluated traits under nonirrigated and irrigated conditions, indicating that drought stress increased variation for these traits. Drought stress reduced seed yield and its attributes. Mean seed yield was decreased by 21% at Zaloke and by18% at ICRISAT experiments under non-irrigated condition than irrigated condition. Five genotypes were detected with high seed yield under non-irrigated condition. They were ICCC 37 at Sebin and Zaloke, and PCHL 04-5, ICCV 03107, Annigeri and ICCV 00108 at ICRISAT. These genotypes were also observed superior to the seed yield of drought tolerant check genotype (ICC 4958) under irrigated condition. Simple correlation among the traits with seed yield showed that there was significant and positive correlation between number of pods per plant and seed yield (r=0.41 at p < 0.01) at Sebin and (r=0.31 at p < 0.05) ICRISAT experiments, and drought tolerance indices were significantly associated with seed yield at Zaloke. The SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) was increased but specific leaf area (SLA), and relative water content (RWC) were decreased in most of the genotypes under non-irrigated condition as compared to irrigated condition. This study also identified good performance in two genotypes for SCMR (ICCV 03110 and ICCV 00108), five genotypes for SLA (ICCV 01303, ICCV 03406, ICCV 04303, ICCV 04301 and ICCV 03302) and four genotypes for RWC (ICCC 37, Yezin 6, Karachi and ICCV 00108). Results showed that the SCMR was significantly related to seed yield (r=0.32 at p < 0.05) and SLA (r=-0.32 at p < 0.05). The genotypes having high SCMR and low SLA seemed to be resistance to drought. Root study revealed that a large genetic variability was observed for root traits with good levels of heritability. The genotypes, PCHL 04-34, Shwenilonegi, ICCV 03103, Yezin 6 and PCHL 04-32, were found to have the largest root length density and the deepest root system. All root traits were significantly inter-correlated and associated with shoot dry weight.Chickpea2011Yezin Agricultural University;.Thesis