Study of seed yield and some associated characteristics in chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.) under drought stress conditions of Kurdistan

To study seed yield and some associated characteristics in chickpea under drought stress conditions and to identify tolerant lines, an experiment was conducted in Kurdistan Agricultural Research Station during 1998 cropping season. In this study twenty-one Desi type chickpea genotypes including twenty entries originated from International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), as well as a local check (Pirouz) were sown in tow separate RCB design with 3 replications under stress and non-stress conditions. Drought Susceptibility Index (DSI) was estimated based on seed yield of chickpea genotypes under stress and non-stress conditions. Simple correlation coefficients and path analysis were also calculated and performed. Results showed that, there were considerable genotypic variations for yield and yield components among chickpea genotypes. Relationships between number of secondary branches, 100seeds weight, plant height and seed yield was positive. Correlation between days from sowing to flowering and seed yield was negative (r = -0.821**). Number of secondary branches had the highest direct effect on seed yield. Thus, early maturity and more secondary branches implied to be more associated with higher seed yield under drought prone climates in Kurdistan province.