1ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, 208 024, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, 273 009, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior, 474 002, Madhya Pradesh, India
*Corresponding Author: Nagmi Praween, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Rajmata VijayarajeScindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior, 474 002, Madhya Pradesh, India, E-Mail: nagmi0802@gmail.com
Online published on 8 July, 2025.
High temperatures exceeding 35°C during the chickpea reproductive phase can significantly impact yield. This stress disrupts fertilization, leading to pod abortion and reduced seed set. To identify heat-tolerant genotypes for breeding programs, this study evaluated 113 diverse chickpea lines (varieties, landraces, exotic collections, and advanced breeding lines) under timely and late-sown conditions during the rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21. Ten heat tolerance indices were employed, including Yield Index (YI), Yield Susceptibility Index (YSI), Stress Tolerance Index (STI), and others. These indices exhibited significant variation among the genotypes and demonstrated both positive and negative correlations with seed yield under heat stress, highlighting their usefulness in identifying tolerant genotypes across different scenarios. While all genotypes experienced yield reduction under high temperatures, the extent of the reduction varied considerably among the genotypes. Based on a comprehensive analysis of heat stress indices and other statistical parameters, chickpea genotypes IPC17-129, IPC18-131, IPC17-143, IPC16-136, and IPC17-351 were identified as heat-tolerant and recommended for use as parents in breeding programs aimed at developing heat-resistant chickpea varieties.
Chickpea, Heat stress, Seed yield, Heat tolerance indices, PCA, Bilot, Clustering
