Iron deficiency in chickpea in the Mediterranean region and its control through resistant genotypes and nutrient application

Abstract

Iron-deficiency chlorosis is commonly observed in some genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the Mediterranean region of West Asia and North Africa when grown on calcareous soils. An evaluation of 3267 germplasm lines of kabuli-type chickpea for iron-deficiency chlorosis on the calcareous soil (calcium carbonate content ~ 20%, pH ~ 8.5) of the principal research station of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) at Tel Hadya, northern Syria, revealed that most of the lines were tolerant while only 25 lines showed susceptibility. Foliar spray of 0.5% FeSO4 at the onset of chlorosis was effective in correcting the symptoms but did not result in significant increase in crop yield.Studies on the inheritance of resistance to iron-deficiency chlorosis revealed that the resistance was dominant and is governed by a single gene.To ensure elimination from the breeding material of chickpea genotypes inefficient in Fe-use on the calcareous soils of the Mediterranean region, a negative selection for Fe-deficiency chlorosis in the segregating populations in the field has proved effective. The method for field screening of large number of breeding lines and germplasm is described.

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON INHERITANCE OF FE-DEFICIENCY CHLOROSIS IN CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.)

“…Materials were screened for Fe-deficiency chlorosis using some modifications of (Table 1) a visual 1-9 scale (Saxena et al, 1990) before flowering stage because Fedeficiency chlorosis in ICC 6119 was transient.…”

“…Selection of Fe-efficient chickpea genotypes depends on knowledge about its inheritance and genetics is of critical importance. In chickpea, genetics and inheritance of Fedeficiency chlorosis were studied by Ali et al (1988), Gowda and Smithson (1980), Halila (1983) and Saxena et al (1990) but environmental factors have been ignored in these studies made on Fe-deficiency chlorosis. In the present study, it was evaluated inheritance of Fedeficiency chlorosis in chickpea considering environmental factors viz.…”

Screening techniques and sources of tolerance to salinity and mineral nutrient imbalances in cool season food legumes

“…Screening germplasm grown on high pH (more than 8 .1) calcareous soils has been very effective in identifying genotypic differences in sensitivity to Fedeficiency, both in chickpea and lentil (Gowda & Smithson, 1980 ;Saxena & Sheldrake, 1980 ;Saxena et al ., 1990;Erskine et al, 1993) . Gowda & Smithson (1980) used irrigation to magnify genotypic differences in response .…”

“…Criteria for selection In chickpea, the characteristic appearance of Fedeficiency in susceptible and lack of the incipient deficiency in tolerant genotypes (Saxena & Sheldrake, 1980) permits selection of tolerant material in germplasm on the basis of visible symptoms and the rejection of susceptible types in the segregating population, because the trait is governed by a single recessive gene (Gowda & Smithson, 1980 ;Saxena et al, 1990) . Genotypic differences in Fe-deficiency tolerance in chickpea have been rated on a scale of 1 to 9 (Gowda & Smithson, 1980 ;Saxena et al, 1990) and 1 to 5 by Hamze et al .…”

“…Genotypic differences in Fe-deficiency tolerance in chickpea have been rated on a scale of 1 to 9 (Gowda & Smithson, 1980 ;Saxena et al, 1990) and 1 to 5 by Hamze et al . (1987) .…”