Fatma Oncu Ceylan

Estimation of Outcrossing Rate in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Sown in Autumn

Gene flow via outcrossing from transgenic plants to relatives will be one of the most important concerns to grow of the transgenic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in European Union (EU). This report is therefore focused on spontaneous outcrossing rate in chickpea. A total of 39 kabuli type mutants with white flower and one desi type with pink flower were grown to estimate spontaneous outcrossing rate. Outcrossing rate ranged from 0.0 to 1.25% in mutant materials. Since labelling threshold for transgenic contamination in food and feed in European Union (EU) is 0.9%, outcrossing rate of 1.25% is higher than threshold of 0.9% in EU, and this result suggests that cultivation of transgenic chickpea will be under high risk to be contaminated chickpeas in neighbourhood fields.

INHERITANCE OF RESISTANCE TO IRON DEFICIENCY CHLOROSIS IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Iron (Fe)-deficiency chlorosis causes considerable yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) when susceptible genotypes are grown in calcareous soils with high pH. The most feasible method for alleviating Fe deficiency is the selection of suitable cultivars resistant to Fe deficiency chlorosis. ICC 6119 (desi type), which is Fe-deficient chlorosis, was crossed with CA 2969 and Sierra (kabuli types), resistant to Fe deficiency chlorosis. Inheritance of resistance to Fe deficiency in chickpea revealed that the resistance was controlled by a single dominant gene in these genotypes crossed. A negative selection for resistance to Fe deficiency chlorosis will be effective after segregating generations.

Comparison of expressivity and penetrance of the double podding trait and yield components based on reciprocal crosses of kabuli and desi chickpeas ( Cicer arietinum L.)

Double podding in cultivated chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) can increase yield and yield stability. In the present study, we performed reciprocal crosses of ‘kabuli’ (double podded) and ‘desi’ (single podded) chickpeas to determine (i) the expressivity and penetrance of double podding, (ii) the correlations of yield and yield components, and (iii) the heritability of double podding, flower color, and stem pigmentation in F2 plants. Reciprocal crosses were performed with two genotypes, AC 2969 (kabuli) and ICC 4969 (desi), to generate F1 and F2 plants. The results indicated hybrid vigor (heterosis) for yield in F1 plants and better performance of F2 plants. Yield and yield components of some lines in F2 were superior to the best parent, indicative of transgressive segregation. In particular, the presence of double podding (‘s’ allele) significantly increased yield in some of the transgressive segregants. Expressivity and penetrance of the ‘s’ allele depends on the background of the female parent. Some of the double podding progeny had greater seed yields than those of the single podding progeny and greater seed yields than the best parents. Double podding, stem pigmentation, and pink flowers each appears to be governed by a single recessive gene. Stem pigmentation and pink flowers appear to be linked traits that depend on the genetic background of the crossed chickpeas. Taken together, our studies of reciprocal crosses of kabuli and desi chickpeas clearly showed that yield could be improved by selection for transgressive phenotypes that have double podding.

Revealing of resistant sources in Cicer species to chickpea leaf miner, Liriomyza cicerina (Rondani)

The chickpea leaf miner, Liriomyza cicerina (Rondani) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is an important pest of cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). A 2-year field study was carried out to screen a total of 126 Cicer germplasm for resistance to the leaf miner during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. Resistance was evaluated using a visual scale of 1–9, where 1 = highly resistant and 9 = very highly susceptible under natural infestation conditions. The results showed that two C. arietinum accessions, ILC 3397 and Sierra, had a score of 9 on the scale, being very highly susceptible. Three germplasm, one mutant (3304) and two breeding lines (LMR 140 and LMR 160) of C. arietinum, were found to be highly resistant with the scores ranging from 1.5 to 2 for resistance to the leaf miner. The mutant, 3304, was detected for the first time in this study as a highly leaf miner-resistant mutant of the cultivated chickpeas while the other two breeding lines had been previously reported as highly resistant against the leaf miner. In addition, two mutants and 14 breeding lines of C. arietinum and two mutants and one germplasm of C. reticulatum were identified as resistant having the scores from 2.1 to 3 on the 1–9 scale. The results suggest that these resistant germplasm may add a new dimension to chickpea breeding programs because they possess valuable traits for resistance against the pest. The resistant chickpeas that can be grown without using pesticides are important as environmental protection and reliable food source for human health.