Correlation of stress indices with yield parameters in wild chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) accessions under irrigated and rainfed conditions

Abstract

Six wild chickpea accessions were procured during Rabi seasons 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to record morpho-physiological parameters and yield components at pod initiation stage. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design with two treatments irrigated and rainfed each with three replicates. Results indicated a significant decrease in the specific leaf weight (SLW), photosynthetic rate (PR) and relative water content (RWC) under rainfed conditions in wild chickpea accessions. Wild accessions C judaicum 17148 (29.5%) and C pinnatifidum212 (31.0%)displayed their resistance towards water scarcity by maintaining high relative water content that depicted negative correlation with membrane damage (r=-0.98).The membrane damage showed an inversely proportional relationship (r=-0.69) with seed weight, a yield component under rainfed conditions evidencing the requirement of water at pod filling stage.