Evaluation of cold tolerance in winter sowing of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) using morphological and phenological traits in Kurdistan region

Winter sown chickpeas produce more yields in comparison with spring type. This function is hampered by the sensitivity of the crop to low temperature. In order to study and identify high yielding and cold tolerant chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) lines، 65 entries along with one susceptible check variety namely ILC533 were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications during 2010-11 cropping season at Saral Agricultural Research Station of Kurdistan province، west of Iran. Cold tolerance was investigated via viability percentage and cold tolerance rate parameters. Analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences among the lines for plant height، 100 seed weight، seed yield and cold tolerance rate. Significant negative and positive correlations were found among yield and cold tolerance rate and viability percentage، respectively. The cluster analysis، categorized the lines into three distinct groups. According to this study، 14 lines having 3 and less than 3 of cold tolerance rate، 80-95 viability percentage and more than 141g/m2 seed yield recognized as superior lines for cold tolerance.