Genetic enhancement for grain yield in chickpea – accomplishments and resetting research agenda

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), commonly known as ‘gram’ is one of the major pulse crops of India covering 7.97 m ha area producing 7.06 m t of the grains and registering all time productivity of 885 kg/ha during 2008-09. This has become possible due to development and popularization of high yielding varieties insulated well against various biotic and abiotic stresses for various parts of the country. Some of these high yielding are GNG 158, Vijay, DCP 92-3, Rajas, Digvijay, KWR 108, H 82-2, RSG 888, JG 315, Vijay, JG 16, ICCV 10, JG 11, KGD 1168, GNG 469, Pusa 372, KPG 59, ICCV 2, Shubhra (IPCK 2002-29), BGD 128, Pusa Chamatkar (BG 1053), JGK 1 and Pusa kabuli 1003 which have stable resistance against wilt. Similarly PBG 5, GNG 469, PBG 1, Pusa 413, Pusa 408, Pusa 417 and Himachal chana 1 have resistance against ascochyta blight besides high yield potential. Little efforts have been made in vast variability present among germplasm accessions, which are available with several International and National Institutes. Inter-mating between accessions/elite lines of same origin or inter-varietal crosses led varieties development has resulted in narrow genetic base of existing cultivars. Little efforts have been made in exploitation of wild Cicer and exotic collections also. Concerted and systematic efforts are required to harness the potential of this vast variability. In view of the changing climatic and global scenario there is urgent need to reorient breeding programme so that desired level of genetic enhancement can be achieved. Genetic options for mitigating terminal soil moisture stress and high temperature, both at reproductive and vegetative stage, development of genotypes with high nutrient efficiency need care in breeding programmes. Besides, biotic and abiotic stresses now trade has become more important. Ttherefore development varieties possessing consumers’ preferred traits like seed size in kabuli and milling quality in desi chickpea need special attention. With the advent of powerful non-conventional approaches for transferring genes from wild sources and even other genera, it has become possible to develop resistant cultivars for dreaded insect pest like gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner. Hence potential of biotechnological tools must be exploited. The potential of molecular marker technology in transferring of targeted traits with utmost efficiency or QTLs/ targeted genes has been discussed along with efforts on mapping and tagging of genes conferring resistance/tolerance to major diseases and abiotic stresses. The present paper deals with the accomplishments’ made and the research agenda for genetic enhancement of grain yield and production of chickpea in India in near future.