Effects of pod exposure on yield of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)
1980
Saxena, N.P. | Sheldrake, A.R. (International Crops Research Inst. for the Semi-arid Tropics, Hyderabad (India))
Pod photosynthesis is known to contribute to seed filling in a number of legume crops, and may also be of importance in chickpeas (Cicer arietium L.), which have green pods possessing stomata. Although the pods of chickpeas are borne in the leaf axils, they generally hang below the leaves and are consequently more or less shaded; but a few lines have recently been identified in which the pods are borne above the leaves. This "exposed pod" character could be incorporated into new cultivars by breeding if it were shown to be of advantage. The effect on yield and yield components of exposing pods of normal cultivars was investigated in field experiments at three locations in India: at Hyderabad and Hissar during the winter season, and in the Lahaul valley in the Himalayas during the summer season. A significant effect of pod exposure on yield or yield components was not observed in any of the experiments, except at Hissar where a slight but significant increase in 100-seed weight was noted. The "exposed pod" character is unlikely to be of use in breeding for higher yield potentials
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