Bio-Physico-Chemical Response of Drought Tolerant Chickpeas to Nickel.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate response of two genetically different drought tolerant varieties of Cicer arietinum L. namely PUSA 1103, Desi variety and PUSA 1105, Kabuli variety to the basal applications of nickel chloride doses viz; 0, 0.62, 3.12, 12.5, 62.5 and 125 µg g-1. Significant increase in the growth was observed at 0.62 and 3.12 µg g-1 nickel chloride doses. Addition of nickel dose above this level reduced the leaf area, plant growth, root length and yield of the plants. Fruiting stage showed more severe toxicity symptoms in comparison to the vegetative stages. Protein contents in seeds and chlorophyll contents along with nitrate reductase activity increased significantly in the leaves at the lower nickel doses. Peroxidase and superoxide-dismutase activities increased in a concomitant manner with increasing nickel concentrations. Increased concentrations of the soil applied nickel demonstrated an increase in the content of nickel higher in shoots also followed by roots. Accumulation of nickel and grain yield was higher in Desi chickpea variety PUSA 1103, indicating for its potential utilization in crop improvement strategies to breed new chickpea genotypes for nickel and drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]