Moisture Induced Changes in Root Attributes and Selection Indices for Drought Tolerance in Desi, Kabuli and Wild Chickpea Accessions

Root traits i.e. root length (RL), root weight (RW) and root area (RA) and root indices i.e. root length density (RLD) and root:shoot ratio (RSR) were evaluated in leaves of desi, kabuli and wild chickpea accessions at 70 DAS under receding moisture conditions (control, 50% and 75% reduction). The tolerance of desi genotypes was recorded to be significantly higher than kabuli and wild accessions. Check desi genotype PBG 7 was observed to be tolerant to moisture stress with 13.15% and 34.04% decline in root length density as well as root length under 50% moisture reduction conditions respectively. However, wild accessions sustained low stress injuries in terms of low membrane permeability index (MPI) (12.76 and 28.46%) and less decline in cellular respiration (26.06 and 43.23%) highlighting their resistance at 50 and 75% moisture reduction respectively. The tolerance capacity of the desi genotypes was attributed to high root area that contributed directly to root length density (P=0.89) and was instrumental in maintaining yield stability.