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The effect of the water deficit on the fresh and dry weight in the various parts of the plant and on several mineral processes in different symbiotic combinations for the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties was studied. The experiment was undertaken in the greenhouse during five weeks. Seedlings were separately inoculated with a suspension of three rhizobia strains and were grown under water deficit (50% of field capacity). Our results showed that the inoculation with the adequate rhizobia may improve the chickpea dry weight by improving the nodules (NRA, Na+, andK+).

Drought stress is one of the major factors limiting the growth and development of legumes. In order to improve water deficit tolerance of this crop, several techniques have been put into practice such as seed priming or the selection of tolerant genotypes to water stress. In 2020, field experiment was conducted to assess the drought tolerance of thirty-six chickpea genotypes (C. arietinum) by analyzing the behaviour of certain physiological and biochemical parameters of plants harvested in a randomized field experiment. The genotypes analysed presented a diversity of behavior concerning the accumulation of mineral elements under drought. The results showed an accumulation of inorganic ions, especially calcium and potassium (1.8 and 2 mg.g -1 , respectively) and increased proline and protein content (3.4 and 1.7 mg.g -1 , respectively) has been observed in drought tolerant chickpea genotypes. Also, the results obtained showed that the P contents in the aerial parts are generally higher for plants with a high biomass, such as the case of genotypes V36 and V32. This tends to prove the positive effect of P on plant growth. After analysis of the various parameters, the results obtained allowed us to classify the tolerant genotypes:, V36, V38 andV41, intermediates: V40 and V4 and sensitive: V17 and V28.

The effects of drought on growth, several physiological and biochemical processes in six winter varieties (Zhour, Rizki, Douyet, V46, V34 and P37) of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and two rhizobial strains (MC07 and MC10) were studied. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Seedlings were grown under three regimes moistening and inoculated separately: 100 % of field capacity (control), 80% of field capacity (optimal irrigation) and 40% of field capacity (water deficit). The results showed that the hydric deficit had significantly perturbed the dry biomass, proline activity, total chlorophyll and nitrogen contents. Moreover, this constraint negatively affected the water deficit saturation (WDS), the membrane permeability and the stomatal conductance of leaves. Under drought, the varieties Zhour and Rizki showed a better water efficiency that was translated by high level in proline accumulation, membrane stability, total chlorophyll and nitrogen contents. These parameters were maintained at the adequate levels with the rhizobial strain MC07 which showed a tolerance in the drought condition. On the contrary, the symbiotic combination least powerful according to the studied parameters is formed by the variety P37-MC10.

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