Waterlogging effects on growth, nodulation and productivity of Desi and Kabuli chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.)

Abstract

Early planting against terminal drought and increase in precipitation extremes due to climate change may expose chickpea production to transient waterlogging. Desi and kabuli type chickpea were subjected to 10 days waterlogging during three phases to assess relative sensitivity among phases and between genotypes and to identify traits that may contribute for performance under the stress. Waterlogging increased stomatal resistance with full conductance recovery made only after relief from early waterlogging. The desi type maintained consistently greater stomatal resistance against waterlogging. Root growth and nodulation were most resilient to early stress while irreversibly destroyed by mid and terminal waterlogging. On the other hand, aboveground vegetative growth suffered most from early and mid waterlogging while it was not affected by terminal stress. A moisture by genotype interaction showed that the desi type suffered a 21% loss in seed yield while the kabuli lost almost twice as much, 39%. The flowering phase was most susceptible to waterlogging followed by seedfilling irrespective of chickpea type with mean reductions of 97% and 56%, respectively. Susceptibility of the flowering phase was due to large flower abortion, severe root and nodule degradation, shortened seed filling duration, detrimental leaf senescence and persistently high stomatal resistance. Relative tolerance of desi type against vegetative waterlogging for yield performance may be associated with fast recovery from chlorosis, increased pod production on the main stem and better nodulation capacity. It seems that the desi genotype, Naatolii, can be a better choice when risk of early waterlogging is anticipated from early planting or weather variability.

Key words/phrases: Chickpea, Growth, Nodulation, Seed yield, Waterlogging.