Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germination responses to water stress induced by polyethylenglycol 6000

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• A Masoumi ¹
• M Kafi ²
• H. R Khazaei ²

¹ -

² Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

10.22067/gsc.v6i2.2451

Abstract

Chickpea is a traditional pulse in arid and semi-arid regions. Germination and stand establishment are important factors for determining final density of plant in dry regions. This research was conducted using a randomized complete design with factorial arrangement of four drought levels and control level (including: 0, -4, -8, -12, -16 bar) and twelve chickpea genotypes, with 3 replication. This experiment was conducted to study the impact of drought stress on chickpea germination, in a Physiology laboratory of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 1384. Drought levels imposed a significant reduction on all measurement parameters including, percent and rate germination; dry weight, radicle and plumule length, radicle to plumule ratio, endosperm consuming. Among the levels of water potentials tested, -4 and -8bar because of the best variety between measurements parameters were best treatments for evaluating drought stress of chickpea genotypes. Radicle and plumule did not form in heavy drought stress. Among genotypes tested, JAM, KARAJ12-60-31, ILC482 and MCC101 were the best genotypes under simulated drought condition. We can say these genotypes are suitable for drought situation that another growth stages are tested in field experiments.

Keywords: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), germination, PEG, drought stress.

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