Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important grain legumes after common bean. In the present study, a total of 35 chickpea genotypes including desi and Kabuli types of cultivated chickpea (C. arietinum) were evaluated for seed physical characteristics that are very important for seed storage, processing and determining seed quality traits. Therefore, it has become imperative to study the seed physical characteristics of chickpea during the present study. The analysis of data revealed that substantial variation is present among the genotypes under study with respect to seed physical characteristics such as seed size, seed volume, seed density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and swelling index. These traits are considered important to determine the seed rate at the time of sowing of the crop, cooking quality, storage and processing and thereby have a direct bearing on the economics of chickpea consumption. Our results indicated that the desi, Kabuli and pea-shaped genotypes differ significantly in seed physical characteristics with overall superior trait performance of the Kabuli type compared to other seed types, making them superior with respect to consumer/market demands.

Improving plant resistance against Fusarium wilt (FW) is key to sustaining chickpea production worldwide. Given this, the current study tested a set of 75 FW-responsive chickpea breeding lines including checks in a wilt-sick plot for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017). Genetic diversity analysis using 75 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed a total of 267 alleles with an average of 3.56 alleles per marker. The entire set was divided into two major classes based on clustering method and factorial analysis. Similarly, STRUCTURE analysis placed the 75 genotypes into three distinct sub-groups (K = 3). Marker-trait association (MTA) analysis using the generalized linear model approach revealed nine and eight significant MTAs for FW resistance in the years 2016 and 2017, respectively. Three significant MTAs were obtained for FW resistance following the mixed linear model approach for both years. The SSR markers CESSR433, NCPGR21 and ICCM0284 could be potentially employed for targeted and accelerated improvement of FW resistance in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on association mapping of the genomic loci controlling FW (Foc2) resistance in chickpea.

Crenate broomrape is a major constraint for legume production in Mediterranean and East Asian countries. Resistance to this parasitic weed is scarce in many legumes but is common in chickpea germ plasm. A detailed in vitro study has shown that resistance in chickpea is the result of the combination of at least two mechanisms. First, and most importantly, the two chickpea lines studied have been identified with low rates of stimulant production. Once germination is induced by exogenous applications of the synthetic germination stimulant GR24, thus overcoming the primary resistance mechanism in these lines, a second resistance mechanism is apparent. This is evidenced by a darkening of host cell tissue in contact with the broomrape radicle, leading to failure of establishment, which was frequently observed in the chickpea accessions. Anatomical studies have shown that this apparently “hypersensitive” response does not correspond with the death of host cells in contact with the parasite cells but corresponds to blocking and death of the penetration structures of the parasite.

Botrytis grey mould (BGM), caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., is an important disease of chickpea causing economic losses across the world in chickpea-growing regions. There are no available resistance sources in cultivated chickpea against this disease. Cicer echinospermum and C. reticulatum, the only two compatible annual wild species, have been reported to have resistance to BGM. Hence, interspecific populations were developed with susceptible cultivars as female parents and C. echinospermum accession IG 73 074 and C. reticulatum accession IG 72 937 as the pollen donors to transfer and assess the nature of genetic control for BGM. Screening the progeny indicated that resistance to BGM was controlled by a single additive gene/allele (bgmr1cr and bgmr1ce), which can be introgressed through a backcross breeding programme.

Eighty-six chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes, including 44 Kabuli type and 42 Desi type, were evaluated for their phenological, physicochemical and cooking quality traits. There were significant differences among the genotypes for days to 50% flowering (34–81 d), days to maturity (85–122 d), number of pods per plant (13–66), number of seeds per plant (15–85), 100-seed weight (10.5–58.6 g), seed yield (561–1852 kg/ha), hydration capacity (0.11–0.68 g water/seed), hydration index (0.80–1.21), swelling capacity (0.11–0.7 ml/seed), seed volume (0.1–0.52 ml/seed) and cooking time (38–125 min). The Desi and Kabuli types of chickpea differed significantly from each other for all the traits except for hydration index, swelling index and cooking time. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for 100-seed weight, hydration capacity, swelling capacity and seed volume in both Desi and Kabuli genotypes. Seed size (100-seed weight and seed volume) showed significant positive correlations with hydration capacity and swelling capacity. Cooking time did not show any significant positive or negative correlation with any of the traits studied, including seed size, indicating that other additional factors may be involved in controlling cooking time. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to develop cultivars with faster cooking time in both Kabuli and Desi types and in all seed size categories.

Continuous breeding efforts in Ethiopia resulted in the release of 15 improved chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties with improved yield, seed quality, disease resistance and better adaptation to different production zones within Ethiopia. This study was conducted to examine whether breeding for increased yield and other important agronomic traits without direct selection for resistance to the adzuki bean beetle (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) has inadvertently resulted in a significant level of susceptibility to this seed pest within the new cultivars. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to see whether breeding for better seed quality has increased susceptibility to infestation by the adzuki bean beetle. Seeds of 130 accessions/genotypes were infested with the beetle in 2009 under ambient temperature and relative humidity at Holetta, Ambo and Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Data were recorded on attributes of infestation level and seed damage. Data on seed size, proportion of seed coat and grain yield were collected from a replicated field trial conducted with the same accessions/genotypes grown under the same conditions in 2009/10 at Ginchi and Ambo, Ethiopia. Differences among the genotypes were significant for most traits with the exception of the number of uninfested seeds. Accessions with partial resistance include 41320, 41289, 41291, 41134, 41315, 207658, 41103, 41168, 41142, 41174, 41029, 41207, 209087, 231327, 41161 and 41008. The improved varieties were more susceptible than germplasm accessions. The results indicate that genetic progress was achieved both in grain yield and seed size, but breeding efforts for these traits had also inadvertently increased seed susceptibility to C. chinensis. Improvements in seed size resulted in higher infestation levels and seed damage. Future breeding to improve seed quality should simultaneously consider corrective measures to incorporate resistance to the adzuki bean beetle.

On the premise that seed ageing may be largely a result of free-radical lipid autoxidation, a study was made of the relationship between lipid stability and longevity in seeds of soybean (Glycine max), lentil (Lens culinaris), mungbean (Vigna radiata), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), broadbean (Vicia faba), pea (Pisum sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Seed lipids were examined for α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols, and levels of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Using this information, analysis was attempted using linear, multiplicative or exponential models to correlate aspects of lipid stability with seed longevity values from the published literature. No statistically significant correlations could be found between longevity and total lipid unsaturation, tocopherol levels or two protection formulae obtained from the oil chemistry literature. When values for tomato were excluded, a good correlation (r = 0.89, P = 0.007) was obtained using a multiplicative regression model for levels of linolenic acid per unit of total tocopherols in relation to longevity. Possible factors contributing to a lessening of the relationship between lipid stability and seed longevity are discussed.

A chickpea collection of 1600 desi and 1400 kabuli were evaluated for yield losses arising from pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) infestation under rainfed conditions by spraying half the plots to prevent pod borer infestation and allowing the other half to be infested. From these lines, 82 were selected for further detailed evaluation of Helicoverpa resistance and drought resistance under irrigated and rainfed conditions. The yield losses from Helicoverpa damage varied from 10 to 33% depending on the chickpea type and the growing environment. Spreading types were more susceptible to Helicoverpa damage than erect types, as were kabuli types compared to desi types. Yield losses due to Helicoverpa infestation were always greater in the irrigated than in the rainfed materials. Terminal drought reduced yields by 13–37% depending on plant type. The yields in the kabuli c“hickpea lines were more severely reduced than were the desi types, due to a greater reduction in the number of branches and pods per plant in the kabuli compared to the desi lines. It appears that the extent of pod borer damage varies between the chickpea types, and that desi types have greater drought resistance than kabuli ones. These characteristics should be informative for the population improvement of chickpea for environments in which terminal drought and Helicoverpa damage occur frequently.

Some physiological characteristics of ACC-Nmalonyltransferase (ACC-N-MTase) have been studied in the seeds of chick-pea (Cicer arietinum L.). This enzymatic activity was detectable during all periods of zygotic embryogenesis; however, the highest values were found in the dry seed. In dry seeds, the enzymatic activity was greater in the embryonic axis than in the cotyledons. During the onset of germination, activity increased more strongly in the cotyledons than in the embryonic axis, reaching its highest values in the storage organs coinciding with radicle emergence (18 to 24 h). Removal of the cotyledons strongly diminished enzymatic activity in the embryonic axis. Low concentrations of ethrel (50 µM) stimulated the axis ACC-N-MTase. The highest specific activity was found in the apical meristem of the embryonic axis, declining over the length of the organ. The role of ACC-N-MTase activity in the germinative process is discussed, together with the regulatory effect of ethylene on this ACCconjugating enzyme.

A recombinant protein (approximately 38 kDa by SDS/PAGE), induced by expression in Escherichia coli of a cDNA encoding a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO) isolated from embryonic axes of Cicer arietinum, was recognized by an antibody raised against an apple ACO. A monoclonal antibody, obtained from recombinant ACO of chick-peas, was used for immunolocalization experiments in the embryonic axes of chick-pea seeds. The results indicate that most of the ACO was present in the apoplast of the cell wall. No evidence of this protein in the vacuole was detected. During germination of C. arietinum seeds, the production of ethylene was induced in the embryonic axis; its highest value was reached when radicle emergence occurred. At this moment there was an accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), transcription of ACO mRNA, as well as maximal ACO activity. In the post-germinative period the activity of the last step of ethylene biosynthesis decreased. This decrease was eliminated by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which caused significant transcription of ACO mRNA. It is suggested that gene expression of ACO may be induced by auxins and spermine (Spm) and inhibited by abscisic acid (ABA).

The reproductive activity and the offspring development of the bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) were monitored in the seeds of seven cultivars of Cicer arietinum and three cultivars of Vigna unguiculata. The number of eggs laid by the C. maculatus was higher on the V. unguiculata cultivars than on those of C. arietinum. The survival rate during the embryonic development was higher than 90% regardless of the plant species and cultivars while the post-embryonic development rates did not differ significantly between the cultivars. However, the duration of the embryonic and post-embryonic development and the weight of the emerging females varied with seed species. V. unguiculata seeds allow a higher reproduction and a better development than C. arietinum. In this study, no cultivar had been found to be resistant. In Algeria, C. maculatus can develop in stored grains of both chickpea and cowpea, and it is a major stored grain insect pest.

Three experiments were carried out to determine plasma amino acids concentrations in circulating, portal and hepatic blood of growing male Wistar rats given diets containing lactalbumin, faba beans or chickpeas as the only protein source. Diets contained the same amount of digestible energy (15·5 kJ/g) and protein (lactalbumin in controls or legume proteins in the experimental diets; 100 g/kg). Appropriate amounts of essential synthetic amino acids were also added to legume-based diets taking into account their amino acid composition to equalize them to control (lactalbumin) diets. Portal blood flow (8·7±0·3 ml/min) was measured by using a transit-time ultrasound flow probe. Higher (P < 001) plasma concentrations of methionine than of controls were determined in hepatic veins of legume-fed rats. In contrast, lower (P < 001) concentrations of threonine, proline, valine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine than those of controls were found in faba bean- and chickpea-fed rats. The same result as hepatic was obtained for portal and circulating plasma samples except that alanine and histidine values of legume-fed rats were also lower (P < 001) than controls. Calculated net afferent appearance rates of amino acids to the liver were lower (P < 001) than controls in rats given faba bean and chickpea diets for threonine, alanine, proline, valine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine. This lower contribution of amino acids to the liver mainly via the portal vein in faba bean or chickpea-fed rats might explain previously reported differences in protein utilization and growth in comparison with animals given other protein sources (lactalbumin).