IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PULSES RESEARCH
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

In order to study the effects of planting date and plant density on yield and its components in three chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars in rainfed conditions of Ilam, a field experiment was carried out using split plot design as factorial by complete randomized block design with three replications at Shirvan-Chardavol Agriculture Research Station during 2008-2009. Sowing dates were assigned to main plots at two seasons planting (autumn and spring), plant density (20 and 40 plants/m2) and three cultivars (Arman, Hashem and Azad) were arranged as randomized in sub-plots. Results indicated that grain yield and yield components were affected by planting date and autumn planting produced the highest grain yield (1578 kg/ha). Number of pods per plant, grain yield, 100-grain weight and harvest index were affected by planting density. The highest grain yield obtained from plant density of 20 plants/m2. In this experiment, all traits were affected by cultivars and Azad cultivar showed the highest grain yield and its components. Interaction effects of planting date × plant density × cultivars had a significant effect on grain yield. The highest grain yield (1940kg/ha) obtained from Azad cultivar in autumn sowing date at the rate of 20 plant/m2. Using soil and environmental factors in autumn planting of Azad cultivar resulted in produce of maximum yield and yield components. Complementary researches were recommended for achieving applied results.

To investigate the effect of sowing density and growth habit on yield, yield components and weed community of red bean an experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Zanjan University, during 2009.The experiment carried out using factorial-split plot design in completely randomized block arrangement with three replications. The main plots, included three red bean cultivars (Goli, Sayyad and Derakhshan) and plant density at two levels (40 and 66 plants. m-2) as a factorial and sub plots included weed competition at two levels (weed control and without control), respectively. Goli and Derakhshan cultivars produced 12 and 10%more grain yield than Sayyad cultivar, respectively. Also, results showed that the effect of sowing density on the number of pods per plant (15% reduction), number of seeds per pod (8% reduction) and grain yield (5% increasing) was significant and on other traits were not significant. According to the results weed infestation reduced red bean grain yield about 35% compared to control. Goli cultivar caused a reduction in total weed density (2 times more reduction than Derakhshan cultivar) and dry weight (about 3 times more reduction than Derakhshan cultivar) compared to other cultivars; also increasing sowing density decreased total weed density (32%) and weed dry weight (22%), significantly.

Efficacy of fomesafen and storm (bentazone+aciflorfen) herbicides on common bean (phaseolus vulgaris L.) weed control were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replications during 2008 in Lorestan Province. Herbicides were applied postemergence at three trifoliate growth stage of common bean. Herbicide injury on weeds reached maximum three days after treatments and common bean was recovered from initial injury of herbicides especially their combinations with high dose at 14 days after treatments, so that treatments had no persistent injury effect on crop. Tank mixture of fomesafen (1.5 L.ha-1) and storm (1.5 L.ha-1) treatment controlled weeds by 71.3% and based on visual injury monitoring, this mixtures controlled Physalis divaricata, Hibiscus trionum, and Portulaca oleracea 92.8, 81.3, and 63.8%, respectively. In general, visual evaluation 14 days after treatments, fomesafen (1.5 L.ha-1) mix with storm (1 or 1.5 L.ha-1) controlled weeds by 80% and it was not significantly differed from hand weeding. Results of this research indicated that fomesafen and storm herbicides, and their combinations at proposed doses may apply postemergence for weed control in common bean.

In order to study the phenological and morphological characteristics, comparison of yield and yield components, correlation between traits and determination of the parameters affecting seed yield, a field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of Shahrekord University in 2007. Ten lentil genotypes were compared by a randomized complete block design with three replications. The analysis of variance indicated that there was a significant difference among genotypes for all evaluated traits. Considering significant negative correlation between growing degree days to physiological maturity and seed yield, early maturing genotypes such as genotypes Precoz and L3685, which could grow well before coinciding with high temperature will be produced high yield at Shahrekord climatic condition. Seed weight showed significant negative correlation with number of seeds per plant, number of seeds per pod and number of pods per plant. Since, correlation of number of seeds per plant and number of pods per plant with seed yield were positive, it is expected that the genotypes with lower seed weight could compensate the reduction in their yield by producing either more number of pods or seeds per plant. The results of standard multiple regression analysis between seed yield and its components and also the effects of morphological traits on seed yield showed 100 seeds weight, number of seeds per pod and number of pods per plant highly affected seed yield. Among yield component, 100 seeds weight showed high correlation with seed yield and also showed the maximum positive direct effect on it. Therefore, this component of yield may be considered as the best criteria for indirect selection to increase seed yield. Cluster analysis indicated that the genotypes were different for all studied characteristics and were grouped into high and low yielding genotypes and the high yielding genotypes were early maturing ones.

This experiment was conducted to determine gene action for different traits of chickpea including days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, 100-seeds weight, number of pods per plant and seed yield. Five genotypes including Arman, Hashem, ILC588, ICCV2 and ILC3279 were selected and crossed with each other. Four generations of each cross along with parents were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In each replication 15 plants for P1, P2 and F1, 30 plants for BC1 and BC2, and 60 plants for F2 were evaluated for all traits. Joint scaling test and chi-square test were used to estimate the gene action. The Chi-square of simple three parametric models was significant for all traits except for plant height, indicating the presence of non allelic-interactions in the inheritance of these traits in chickpea. Both additive and dominant genetic effects were significant for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of pods per plant and seed yield. In addition, presence of high amount of dominant effect and dominant × dominant interactions suggests the importance of non-additive genetic effects for these traits in chickpea. Therefore, selection for these traits in early generations could not be effectively successful. However, additive genetic effects play an important role in the inheritance of plant height and 100-seed weight, promising selection for these traits in early generations during the process of chickpea breeding.

In order to study the effects of different irrigation levels on yield, yield components and drought tolerance of four chickpea cultivars, a farm experiment was conducted in Mashhad climatic condition during 2008-2009 growing season. Four irrigation levels including: T1= 100% ETC (Full irrigation), T2= 90% ETC (deficit irrigation), T3=80% ETC (deficit irrigation) and T4=50% ETC (deficit irrigation) and four chickpea cultivars (Jam, Karaj 12-60-31, Kaka and ILC482) were compared in a split plot layout based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The irrigation levels were imposed as main plot and chickpea cultivars as subplot. In each level of irrigation, based on national water document (using NETWAT software) and by the method of Penman Monteith, water requirement was determined. The results showed that different levels of irrigation had significant effects on grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, number of pods per m2, number of seeds per m2 and weight of 100 chickpea seeds. By increasing the rate of supplied water, number of pods and seeds per m2, the weight of 100 chickpea seeds and consequently, grain yield increased, significantly. In all irrigation levels, Kaka and Karaj 12-60-31 cultivars had the highest (930 Kg/ha) and the lowest (166 Kg/ha) seed yield, respectively. In this study, the most drought tolerant cultivars to drought were Kaka, ILC482 and Jam, respectively. In full irrigation treatment, the yield of ILC482 cultivar was lower than Jam cultivar, but in deficit irrigation treatments (T3 and T4) the yield of Jam cultivar was higher than ILC482 cultivar, considerably and in comparison to the other cultivars, its measured qualities less affected by deficit irrigation. Results of this experiment showed that ILC482 cultivar may be recommended as a high tolerant cultivar to drought stress.

Salinity is a major environmental problem in arid and semi-arid areas. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), like other legumes is sensitive to salinity. Therefore, selection of genotypes to grow on saline areas is important. Eleven chickpea genotypes (as sub plots) were grown in the greenhouse conditions on a medium containing different NaCl concentrations (8 and 12 dSm-1) and control (Hoagland solution) as main plots. The results showed that salinity reduced membrane stability index, green leaf area, the percentage of shoot and root dry matter, plant height, number of branch and root to shoot dry weight, significantly and increased leaf relative water content in all genotypes. Membrane stability index (0.61 and 0.73) and green leaf area to total leaf area ratio (0.68 and 0.56) in genotypes showed a positive correlation with shoot and root dry matter, respectively. Biplot on resistance index based on dry matter production showed that amomg drought tolerant genotypes, MCC696, MCC544 and MCC877 are least and MCC760 is the highest salt tolerant genotypes. In this study, except MCC873, other drought sensitive genotypes were categorized in the salt tolerant group. Therefore, it seems that drought tolerant genotypes are not necessarily salt tolerant. Generally, in order to achieve the drought and salinity tolerant chickpea varieties, the genotypes for both traits should be selected.

Determination of cardinal temperatures during seed germination and emergence as well as the thermal time requirement for each stage is essential in crop management and modeling of plant growth and development. Two experiments were conducted to predict cardinal temperatures and thermal time requirement for germination and emergence of chickpea genotypes. In the first experiment, seed germination responses of six chickpea genotypes (MCC361, MCC951, MCC180, MCC873, MCC13 and MCC463) at seven temperature regimes (3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35oC) in a controlled condition were evaluated. The trial was carried out as split plot based on a completely randomized design with three replications using 10 seeds per Petri dish. Seed germination percentages and days to 50% germination (cumulative) were determined. Cardinal germination temperatures using non-linear regression between germination rate and temperature (R50 as y and T as x) were estimated. Temperature function, Dent like model was used to determine seed germination rate. In the second experiment, traits mentioned in first experiment were studied for emergence of chickpea genotypes, with nine planting dates considered as main plots. Therefore, the experiment conducted as split plot based on a complete block design with three replications in the soil. Based on the results, both base temperature for germination and emergence were stable traits and there were not significant differences among genotypes in this respect. Average base temperature of genotypes for germination and emergence were estimated 4.2oC and 6.1oC, respectively. Also, the average optimum temperatures of genotypes for germination differed from 20.4oC to 26.5oC, respectively and for emergence they were differed from 24.0oC to 26.8oC, respectively. There was no considerable genetic diversity for physiological days and thermal time required for germination and emergence of chickpea genotypes. There was a highly significant positive correlation between observed and predicted days to germination and emergence of chickpea using Dent like model. Therefore, this model can be used for simulating germination and emergence times of chickpea.

In order to study the biological fixation efficiency of different strains of symbiosis bacteria in three varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design was conducted in Zanjan province during 2006 and 2007. In this investigation three strains of Rizobium including: Rb117 (extracted from the Zanjan soils), Rb123 (extracted from the Hamadan soils), Rb136 (extracted from the Chahar Mahal Bakhtiyari soils) and a biological inoculants (Rhizobean), with two nitrogen fertilizer treatments (application of 100 kg/ha N and no N application as control), and three bean cultivars (erect type) (COS16, Akhtar and Derakhshan) arranged and data analysis preformed using SAS9.1 and means comparison were done with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results showed that Rb117 strain caused 59% increasing in seed yield compared with non inoculants treatments. The results showed that significant difference in seed and protein yield, seed protein percentage, number and weight of nodules (50 day after emergence) were observed among seed inoculated and non-inoculated. The highest protein content (about 24%) and protein yield (864 kg/ha) were achieved from 100 kg nitrogen, inoculated by Rb117 strain and lowest protein yield was produced from control. Among of all inoculants Rhizobium leguminosarum; bv. phaseoli, Rb117 strain was more effective than other strains, on common bean yield. Among three cultivars, COS16 line was successful in compared with other cultivars. Among Rizobium strains, Rb117 and among bean cultivars, COS16 produced the highest seed yield. Common bean production using strains of Rizobium caused 43% yield increasing and Rb117 strain compatibility was more than other strains and had the most influence on yield.

Organic compost can reduce various plant stresses, because of its porous structure, high water storage capacity, and existence of some substances resembling hormones and plant growth regulators. This study was performed to investigate interactions of different levels of vermicompost extract and salinity stress on morphological characteristics of bean seedlings. The experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design. Seeds were sown in Petri dishes at different concentrations of vermicompost extract (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 100 percent) and salinity levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mM NaCl) with three replications of five seeds. The seedlings were sampled after a week. The results indicated that vermicompost extract without salinity at concentrations of 1, 2, 7.5 and 10 percent, caused significant increase (p≤0.05) in hypocotyl length, dry weight and in root dry weight, whereas no significant effect was seen on diameter, surface and total root length. The concentrations of 2 and 10 percent of vermicompost at 30 mM NaCl as well as 7.5% vermicompost at 90 mM NaCl, improved the decrease of hypocotyl length compared to the state without vermicompost control treatment. In this experiment, the concentrations of 2 and 5 percent of vermicompost, significantly improved the decrease of root dry weight caused by salinity at 30 and 120 mM NaCl, respectively.