Morphological variations black chickpeas by using multivariate analysis methods

Chickpea fall planting may increase seed yield in comparison with spring planting due to the increased duration of growing period and increased water use efficiency. The most important problem with fall planting is the danger of occurrence of plant death and decreased seed yield quantitatively and qualitatively due to the cold stress. The major strategy in breeding program is development of genotype (s) which is tolerance to cold stress. To achieve that، having genetic variability is necessary. Therefore، the present study was conducted to evaluate morphological variations of 28 Iranian black chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under field conditions in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in fall and spring planting. Traits under study include morphological and phenological traits before harvest and seed yield and its components after harvest. Results of analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes and genotype × season interaction for most traits which is an indication of their diversity and different responses of genotypes in both planting seasons. There was a positive significant correlation between seed yield and pods per plant in two seasons. In spring planting، days to 50% flowering with seed yield and pods per plant and also in fall planting، seeds per pod with 100-seed weight showed negative significant correlations. The results of path analysis which was done on the basis of the highest correlations of traits with seed yield، pods per plant had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield in both planting seasons. The indirect effect of this trait through the number of second branches and days to 50% flowering was substantial in both plantings، respectively. These findings showed that in both growing seasons especially in fall planting، pods per plant had the maximum effect on plant growth and seed yield. Thus field studies on genotypes and pods per plant may be used along with physiological and molecular researches to evaluate cold tolerance in black chickpea. The existence of better local genotypes than check varieties supports the efforts on conservation and utilization of landraces in chickpea breeding programs.