Saeed, A New Chickpea Variety, Suitable for Autumn-Entezari Planting in Template and Cold Regions at Dryland Conditions

Based on recent studies, spring sowing of chickpea is not economical in most dryland regions of Iran due to low yield and high production expenditures. Saeed variety was introduced in cold resistance evaluating nurseries and participated in international, primary, advanced and adaptability trials in 2003 as well as studies on resistance to Fusarium wilt and Ascochyta blight disease at research stations and farmers’ fields in winter planting in 2015. Saeed average seed yield was 1450 kgha-1, that was superior to checks varieties Jam and local Ghazvin variety with 31 and 12%, respectively. The average seed yield of Jam and Ghazvin were 1115 and 1278 kgha-1,respectively. Saeed could tolerate -24 cold temperature without emergence but with snow covering and -14°C with emergence and without snow covering. The new variety Saeed, is suitable for its seed yield, well plant height (machine harvestable), high 100 seed weight, suitable seed protein and tolerance to Ascochyta blight disease. It was selected and introduced for autumn sowing in semi-cold regions and winter planting for cold dryland areas of Iran.