Yield performance and responses studies of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under drought stress

Drought is a major abiotic constraint limiting the chickpea yield up to a greater level in Pakistan. The yield level remain very low under prolong moisture deficit conditions. A set of 40 chickpea lines including some approved varieties were assessed for drought tolerance under glasshouse conditions. The crop was given an artificial drought stress at pre-flowering stage for a period of 30 days and then re-irrigated regularly till harvesting. The observations were recorded on plant wilting-I, plant wilting-II, crop recovery percentage and grain yield. The results revealed a relatively divergent response of various chickpea lines/varieties for all the studied parameters. Genotypes SL-05-30 NCS950219 and F-97-112 C remained superior while observing plant wilting-I by scoring 1, 1.67 and 2.00 at 1-9 rating scale and produced higher yield of 18.43, 18.33 and 18.23 grams per plant respectively. The plant recovery response revealed that more than 50% of studied lines could not properly recover after termination of moisture stress suggesting that moisture stress at pre-flowering has usually lethal effect on chickpea plants. Kabuli type chickpea lines were more sensitive to moisture stress and high temperature and produced lower yields as compared to desi type chickpea.