Evaluation of chickpea genotypes in irrigated and non-irrigated conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of drought stress on twenty chickpea genotype by analyzing ecophysiological traits in field condition. Field experiments were carried out during 007-008 at the research farm of dryland agriculture research institute, Sararoud, Kermanshah, in two separate irrigated and non-irrigated conditions with randomized complete block design in four replications.Yield and yield components, leaf area index, the distance of the lowest pod to soil surface, numbers of main stems, length of the main stems, days to flowering and maturity were meseured in each experiment, separately. Drought resistance indices of SSI, STI, TOL, GMP, YI, MH and MP were calculated based on seed yield under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Results indicated that values of studied traits significantly decreased in non-irrigated experiment compared to irrigated one. Days to flowering and the distance of the lowest pod to soil surface showed most positive and negative correlations with yield, respectively. Among drought indices, STI, GMP, MH, and MP were introduced as the best indices for selection of resistant genotypes. Based on cluster analysis of studied genotypes, Azad, ILC.8 and ILC.799 were categorized as the same group and were the most resistant genotypes to drought stress.