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The chickpea, Cicer arietinum L. (Fabales: Fabaceae), seeds are vulnerable, both in the field and in storage, to attack by seed-beetles. Beetles of the genus Callosobruchus are major storage pests of chickpea crops and cause considerable economic losses. In the present study, a total of 11 chickpea genotypes including five ‘kabuli’ (Mexican white, Diyar, CA 2969, ILC 8617 and ACC 245) and six ‘desi’ chickpeas (ICC 1069, ICC 12422, ICC 14336, ICC 4957, ICC 4969 and ICC 7509) were evaluated for resistance to the pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Resistance was evaluated by measuring percent damage to seeds. Damage to seeds by C. maculatus was manifested by the round exit holes with the ‘flap’ of seed coat made by emerging adults. Of the 11 genotypes tested, only one (ICC 4969) exhibited a complete resistance to C. maculatus in both free-choice and no-choice tests; no seed damage was found over the test period. In general, the ‘desi’ chickpeas were more resistant to C. maculatus than the ‘kabuli’ chickpeas. Among the tested chickpea genotypes, only ICC 4969 can be used as a source of C. maculatus resistance in breeding programmes that could then be grown in organic cultivation free from pesticides.

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Gene flow via outcrossing from transgenic plants to relatives will be one of the most important concerns to grow of the transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in European Union (EU). This report is therefore focused on spontaneous outcrossing rate in chickpea. A total of 39 kabuli type mutants with white flower and one desi type with pink flower were grown to estimate spontaneous outcrossing rate. Outcrossing rate ranged from 0.0 to 1.25% in mutant materials. Since labelling threshold for transgenic contamination in food and feed in EU is 0.9%, outcrossing rate of 1.25% is higher than threshold of 0.9% in EU, and this result suggests that cultivation of transgenic chickpea will be under high risk to be contaminated chickpeas in neighbourhood fields.