Physiological and biochemical traits variability in Cicer species

Wild relatives which constitute the crop gene pool, have an inseparable role in construction of new breeding programs. The present study aims to compare diversity of leaf water content, excised leaf water rate specific leaf area, flavonoids, total phenol and protein content traits among three annual wild chickpea species (Cicer echinospermum, C. reticulatum and C. bijigum) with cultivated one (C. arietinum).With this purpose an experiment including 10 treatments and 4 repetition was conducted in Randomly Complete Design at greenhouse in National Plant Gene Bank of Iran during 2014-15. Significant difference has been observed between genotypes from all measured biochemical and physiological traits point of view. Relative water content and leaf relative water loss in C.arietinum statistically was similar to C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum Relative water content of C. bijigum significantly was lower than other species. While leaf relative water loss in this species significantly was more than other species. Average of protein amount was 21% in C.arietinum and C. bijigum, 18% in C. reticulatum and 17% in C. echinospermum. Minimum amount of specific leaf area and maximum amount of total phenol content was found in C. bijigum. There was a considerable variety between C. reticulatum genotypes from flavonoids and total phenol content point of view, which can be used for further achievement in breeding programs for providing functional food or introduction of resistance genotype to pest and disease.