Development of Multiple Stress-Resistant Kabuli Chickpea Germplasm for Diverse Growing Regions

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important crop in dry areas of the world. The major production challenges of chickpea production are Ascochyta blight (AB), wilt/root rot, cold, and drought. ICARDA is mandated to develop elite germplasm resistant to key production challenges of spring and winter-planted chickpea. The wilt/root rot was assessed by recording the percentage of plants showing symptoms of wilting, while the AB was evaluated using a 1-9 disease rating scale where 1 is highly resistant, while a rating of 9 is highly susceptible. ICARDA chickpea breeding program follows the pedigree breeding method to develop multiple stress resistant/tolerant germplasm targeting demands of National Partners in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Mediterranean regions. In this abstract, we present the outcomes of crosses made in 2014 to develop wilt/root rot, and AB resistant chickpea genotypes. A total of 106 crosses were derived from 212 parents and F1 seeds were harvested and planted as F2. A total of 613 selected plants (F3) were evaluated in the wilt/root rot sick pilot at Terbol station, Lebanon. About 62% of progenies with < 15% mortality were retained and screened for AB. A total of 383 lines were selected AB resistant. Only 144 F5 lines were selected from the second round of wilt/root rot screening with a mortality of < 15%. Finally, 48 genotypes with multiple resistance were shared with the national partners.