A note on the evolution of kabuli chickpeas as shown by induced mutations in Cicer reticulatum Ladizinsky

Abstract

Two distinct chickpeas of the domestic chickpea, C. arietinum L., exist and are referred to as 'desi' or microsperma and 'kabuli' or macrosperma. Cicer reticulatum Ladiz. is considered to be the wild progenitor of the domestic chickpea. However, the morphological variation in 18 original accessions of C. reticulatum is narrower than those of the domestic chickpeas. The aim of the study is to increase the variability in C. reticulatum. In M 2 generation, a mutant with white flower color was isolated despite of the fact that the parent has the pink flower. Although seed coat color of the parent was dark brown, the mutant was cream like 'kabuli' chickpea. It is commonly accepted that the large seeded domestic 'kabuli' chickpeas originated from the small seeded 'desi' chickpeas, but the induced mutants (white flower and cream seed coat color) of C. reticulatum may suggest an additional path for the evolution of 'kabuli' chickpea. 'Kabuli' chickpeas could have originated from spontaneous mutants of C. reticulatum. In M 3 generation, multipinnate leaf, erect growth habit, green seed and double-podded chickpeas were isolated. Among these progenies, morphologic variability increased and approached domesticated chickpea. Based on historical records and the induced mutants obtained from this study, the domestic 'kabuli' chickpea could have directly emerged from C. reticulatum in ancient Eastern Turkey.

Induce Physical and Chemical Mutagenesis for Improvement of Yield Attributing Traits and their Correlation Analysis in Chickpea

“…This assessment also assists to understand the mean deviation induced in the agronomic traits. In chickpea, several morphological mutants based on growth habit, size, leaf, flower and seeds were reported [4,9,[14][15][16][17] with the application of single and combination treatments of physical and chemical mutagens. Since, every individual gene responsible for trait of agronomic interest can mutate, therefore, a wide spectrum of viable morphological mutants can be expected in mutation experiments [18].…”

“…Enhancement of both frequency and spectrum of induce morphological mutations towards desired plant characteristics in a sustainable manner is key in mutation breeding experiment for crop improvement. Although identified morphological mutants cannot always be a predicted one and may contain undesirable attributes due to random mutational process, therefore, some mutants, nevertheless, could be used as a source of valuable genes in cross breeding programmes for quantitative traits improvement [16], may be constructive in mapping studies [21] and in evolutionary studies on the crops [15]. The pleiotropic effects of mutated genes or chromosomal aberrations or gene mutations might be responsible for such mutants [22].…”

Legume Crops Phylogeny and Genetic Diversity for Science and Breeding

“…The 'macrosperma' or 'kabuli' and 'microsperma' or 'desi' chickpeas are distinguished on the basis of size and coloration of seeds and flowers and pigmentation on plants (Muehlbauer and Singh, 1987). Both of the cultivated chickpeas are thought to be derived from C. reticulatum (Ladizinsky and Adler, 1976;Toker, 2009), which is native to southeastern Turkey and northern Syria (Ladizinsky and Adler, 1976;Zohary andHopf, 2000, Toker, 2009). According to the classical definition of Harlan and deWet (1971), there is a primary (C. arietinum and C. reticulatum), secondary (C. echinospermum P. H. Davis), and tertiary gene pool (C. pinnatifidum Jaub.…”

Mutagenic Effectiveness and Efficiency of Gamma Rays and HZ with Phenotyping of Induced Mutations in Lentil Cultivars

“…The phenotyping of the isolated mutants led to the classification of these mutants into different categories like plant size, growth habit, leaf, flower, pod and seed. Although economic value of most of the mutants in different morphological categories cannot be established but some mutants can be used as a source of many beneficial genes in cross breeding programmes or for the improvement of some quantitative traits [27], may be useful in mapping studies [28] and in determining the evolution of the crops [29]. The pleiotropic effects of mutated genes or chromosomal aberrations or gene mutations were considered as the root cause for the development of such morphological mutants [26,30].…”