Photoperiod Response of Annual Wild Species and Cultivated Chickpea on Phenology, Growth, and Yield Traits

Abstract

Frequent utilization of wild Cicer species in
chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) improvement
programs, as well as the regeneration of these
wild species for efficient conservation in genebanks,
is hindered due to photoperiod and/or
temperature sensitivity (vernalization). In this
study, the response to four extended photoperiod
treatments (15, 18, 21, and 24 h) was
compared with a control (12 h) for phenology
and growth in terms of reduction in number
of days to first flowering, as well as for yieldrelated
traits in cultivated chickpea and seven
annual wild Cicer species. The study revealed
that wild Cicer species required long photoperiods
(varying from 15 to 18 h) for transition
from the vegetative to reproductive phase.
Optimum photoperiods also improved agronomic
traits such as pod number and seed
yield per plant. Of the photoperiods studied,
18 h was the most appropriate photoperiod
treatment for both reducing the vegetative
phase and for efficient regeneration in C. reticulatum
Ladiz. Fifteen hours was the most
appropriate photoperiod in C. judaicum Boiss.
and C. yamashitae Kitamura. Both 15 and 18 h
were the most appropriate photoperiods in C.
bijugum K.H. Rech. and C. pinnatifidum Jaub.
& Sp., depending on the objective (15 h for
regeneration and 18 h for reducing vegetative
phase). Cicer chorassanicum (Bunge) M. Pop.
and C. cuneatum Hochst. ex A. Rich. showed
a weak response to all the extended photoperiod
treatments. These results contribute to
enhanced utilization of wild Cicer species for
chickpea improvement through synchronization
of flowering facilitating hybridization and
for efficient regeneration by using speciesspecific
extended photoperiod treatments