IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PULSES RESEARCH
Year:2010 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:10

In order to evaluate the efficiency of inoculation of chickpea seeds with Mesorhizobium and application of nitrogen and zinc on yield and yield components of rainfed chickpea an experiment was carried out in research station of Shirvan-Chardavel, Ilam. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments including Mesorhizobium inoculation, nitrogen (40 kg.ha-1 from urea source), zinc (25 kg.ha-1 from zinc sulphate source), nitrogen+zinc, inoculation+zinc application and the control (no inoculation or fertilizer application) with four replications. Differences of grain and biological yield among treatments were significant (p<0.01). Inoculation and application of 25 kg.ha-1 zinc sulfate resulted in the highest grain and biological yield (with 48.7% and 34.7% increase compared to control, respectively). Increases of number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight in those treatments compared to control were 50% and 6.5%, respectively. Increase of grain yield mostly was related to increase of number of pods per plant. Differences between treatments for nitrogen uptake and nitrogen content were also significant (p<0.01). The highest nitrogen uptake observed in treatment of integrated nitrogen and zinc application, a 74.3% increase as compared to control. Differences between treatments in cases of grain protein and zinc concentration were also significant (p<0.01). Integrated nitrogen and zinc application and control showed the highest and lowest grain protein content (23.1% and 19.4%, respectively). The highest zinc fortification of grain was obtained by zinc sulphate and integrated inoculation and zinc sulphate application.

In order to study the effect of sowing dates and cultivation methods on yield and other characteristics of two cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) an experiment based on split plot design was carried out with three replications in 2007 at Khorramdarreh region of Zanjan province. Treatments consisted of three sowing dates (May 21, June 4&19), two cultivation methods (furrow and basin) and two cultivars (spotted bean Talash and red skin bean Naz). Parameters such as seed yield, biological yield, protein percent, seeds per pod, pods per plant, days to maturity, 100 seed weight, plant height, emergence% and harvest index were evaluated. Results of variance analysis showed that all of treatments had significant effects on seed yield and other parameters. Sowing date and cultivars affected seed yield, significantly (p£0.05). Also cultivation method had significant effect on seed yield (p£0.01). Best results for seed yield, pods per plant and seeds per pod were obtained in second date of sowing, furrow system and Naz variety. Highest and lowest yield obtained from June 4 (3878 kg/ha) and June 19 (3246kg/ha) dates, respectively. Highest protein content (21.2 %) obtained in June 19 and spotted bean (Talash) cultivar. The highest number of pods per plant obtained in June 4, furrow method and Naz cultivar.

The lack of herbicides for broadleaf weed control is one of the most important challenges of chickpea production in Iran. Field experiments were conducted in Lorestan, Kermanshah, East and West Azerbaijan to evaluate weed control and chickpea response to application of some herbicides in 2006. There were four replications at each site and treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The experimental treatments in this study were post emergence application of lentagran (2.5 l/ha), pre emergence application of simazine plus prometrin (0.800 plus 0.830 kg/ha, respectively), simazine (0.800 kg/ha), prometrine (0.830 kg/ha), pre emergence application of fomesafen (1 l/ha), post emergence application of fomesafen (1 l/ha plus nonionic surfactant sitogit 1:1000), preplant incorporation (1 l/ha), preemergence (1 l/ha) and post emergence (0.7 l/ha) application of Imazethapyr, preplant incorporation (2.5 l/ha) and post emergence (2.5 l/ha) application of pendimetalin, and weed hand-weeded control. Imazethapyr in all manner of application in spite of acceptable weed control (80% reduction of weeds density) had seriously injury effects on chickpea plants. post emergence application of lentagran, preemergence application of fomesafen, simazine and simazine plus prometrin were preferable herbicide treatments with minimum injury on chickpea and effectively control of weed species. Preemergence application of fomesafen in the meanwhile of relatively appropriate weed control had not unacceptable phytotoxy effects on chickpea, so by limitation of chickpea herbicides, preemergence application of this herbicide can be promising. Fomesafen exhibited the potential to provide a relatively considerable weed control level in chickpea (88% reduction of weeds biomass). These results indicate that fomesafen is an effective herbicide for control of several broadleaf weeds with less injurious to chickpea. Imazethapyr treatments caused unacceptable chickpea injury.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a dry pulse crop commonly used from old time. The chickpea yield is lower as compared to maximum potentials of the cultivars. The gap could mainly be attributed to the weed competition in addition to other production constraints. Although chickpeas are traditionally grown on residual soil moisture, weeds competition pose major problem in many situations. In order to compare the efficiency of 11 herbicide treatments with weedy check treatment (no weed control) of chickpea an experiment was conducted in Agricultural Research Center of Gorgan, Iran. Treatments were compared based on a randomized complete block design with four replications. The herbicides were included Pyridate as a post emergence herbicide at 2 and 2.5 lit.ha-1, Paraquate as an emerging time herbicide at 1.5 and 2 lit.ha-1, Terbotrine, Cianazine, Linoran, Propyzamide and combination all of them as some pre-emergence herbicides. The data were recorded on weed density (plant.m-2) and dry weight of weeds (gr.m-2). Pigweed was a major weed in the field under consideration. Fumitory, lambs quarter and wild mustard were as secondary importance. None of the herbicdes gave adequate control of weeds. In general, pyridate treatments showed a good control on the number and dry weight of weeds under investigation. In the absence of herbicide and weeding, high competition between weeds and crop resulted in reduction of grain yield of chickpea. Otherwise, post emergence applied Pyridate (2lit.ha-1) seemed to be more economical in Golestan conditions for weed control.

In order to determine the appropriate plant density of spotted bean in Yasouj, a field experiment was conducted in 2008 as a factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Three spotted bean cultivars (Keshavarzi, Talash and Oshtori) were sown at five plant densities (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 plant.m-2). Results showed that effect of plant density, cultivar and interaction between them on grain yield were significant. The maximum and minimum grain yield was obtained at 50 plant.m-2 (539.10 g.m-2) and 10 plant.m-2 (203.43 g.m-2), respectively. Number of pods per square meter and grain per pod at plant density of 50 plant. m-2 were higher than the other plant densities. Talash grain yield was higher than the other cultivars. Number of pods per square meter of Talash cultivar was higher than the other cultivars. Oshtori cultivar at plant density of 10 plant m-2 with 161.7 g.m-2 and Talash cultivar at 50 plant.m-2 with 606.6 g.m-2 had maximum and minimum grain yield, respectively.

The purpose of this study was to describe the association between grain yield and its components. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicatsions. Results of analysis showed that similar trends were observed for genotypic and phenotypic correlations and in most cases, the value for genetic correlation was greater than phenotypic value. 100-seed weight revealed the greatest positive phenotypic correlation and plant height as well as 100-seed weight showed the greatest genotypic correlation with seed yield per plant. Path analysis using genotypic correlation coefficients pointed out that 100-seed weight, number of pods per plant, number of nodes per main stem and number of clusters per plant had the greatest positive direct effects on grain yield per plant, respectively. These traits included important factors determining seed yield in concerned genetic materials.

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEPCK) has been shown to be present in plants and animals, playing different metabolic roles in different tissues. The basic role of this enzyme is its contribution in the gluconeogenesis pathway. Evidences have shown that PEPCK may play a role in metabolism of nitrogenous compounds in developing seeds of legumes. In this research, pepck gene expression and the occurrence of PEPCK protein and its activity in different genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinume L.) were determined. Two low protein genotypes (MCC291 & MCC373) and two high protein genotypes (MCC458 & MCC053) out of 20 chickpea genotypes were selected, from which the total RNA was extracted through different stages of seed development. The expression of chickpea pepck gene was estimated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results of RT-PCR showed that two isoforms of this gene were expressed in high protein genotypes, whereas in the low protein genotypes were not expressed. The differential expression of pepck gene is perhaps related to the possible role of Phosphoenolpyrovate Carboxykinase in protein content of chickpea seeds.

Pod borer is one of the main factors for yield decrease of chickpea. Therefore, breeding of chickpea for resistance to this pest is important. Modified cry1Ac gene of Bacillus thuringiensis in pCry1Ac-nptII plasmid containing twin T-DNA for cry1Ac and nptII genes have been used for transformation of chickpea. At last 38 plants had nptII gene that 36 plants of them had cry1Ac gene and two plants had only nptII gene. Western blotting analysis showed that 30 plants had Cry1Ac protein expression. Transformation percentage was 0.37 in this experiment. Only 7 plants produced T1 seeds. Regarding to western blotting and PCR analysis for T0 and T1, plants were devided to some groups with different expressions. Bioassay with neonate of pod borer showed high mortality in lines with high Cry1Ac protein expression.

Some physical properties such as geometrical, gravimetrical, frictional and aerodynamic features of seeds of Desi chickpea and its splits were studied at a moisture content of 8.2 and 9.0% w., respectively from north-western of Iran. Geometrical and gravimetrical properties including the average length, width, thickness, the geometric mean of diameter, sphericity, 1000-seed weight, unit weight, bulk density, true density, porosity and volume of samples were measured. Results showed that amounts of bulk density, true density and porosity calculated for seeds of desi chickpea were higher than those obtained for its splits. Furthermore, frictional properties of samples such as emptying and filling angles of repose and static coefficient of friction with respect to five surfaces (glass, fiberglass, rubber, galvanized iron and polywood) were determined. The least static coefficient of friction for both samples was allocated to glass surface. In the case of seeds of Desi chickpea, polywood had the greatest static coefficient of friction, while for its splits, fiberglass was the highest. Terminal velocity for splits was greater than those measured for seeds of chickpea.

In this paper data were collected from 120 farmers in North Khorassan province for the two periods (2005-2007) in order to survey the role of rain-fed lentil risk profile for designing an insurance model. To evaluate looses of each risk, risk frequency, risk impact criteria’s as well as risk matrix were used. Results showed that low risk was the largest risk area. During study period, a decrease in risks diversity was not observed, and only the inputs price risk increased. Average rates of information, labor, production, price and credit risks were 30, 5.0, 4.5, 3.75 and 3.33%, respectively. Correlation between risk score and rain-fed lentil yield was positive (0.38). According to the results, developing a risk profile and use of risk profile in designing a revenue insurance model and coverage of risks and low-priced credit payments are suggested.