Thal-2020: High Yielding and Stress Tolerance Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivar to Mitigate Climate Change Effects
Thal-2020: High Yielding and Stress Tolerance Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivar to Mitigate Climate Change Effects
Niaz Hussain1, Muneer Abbas1*, Abdul Ghaffar1, Muhammad Aslam1, Mudassar Khaliq1, Khalid Hussain2, Muahammad Nadeem1, Muhammad Irshad1, Zubeda Parveen1, Fiaz Hussain3 and Azhar Mahmood Aulakh4
ABSTRACT
The continuous development of crop cultivars with desired attributes is crucial due to the vulnerability of crop varieties to various biotic and abiotic stresses over time. This necessitates the replacement of existing varieties with genotypes that exhibit enhanced productivity potential and built-in tolerance against a range of stresses. This study highlights the development of a new desi chickpea cultivar “Thal-2020” using conventional plant breeding procedures. This variety expressed higher yield potential, bold seed size and resistance to various diseases. The breeding process commenced in 2006-07 by crossing two local genotypes, 97086 (female parent) and 950130 (male parent), to create genetic variability for bold seed size. Recombinants having higher yield along with bold grains were selected from the F2 population raised from the F1 seed. Subsequent single plant selections (SPS) were accomplished and further advancement from F3 to F5 generations were carried out through the plant pedigree selection method, mainly focusing on recombinants possessing high yield potential with bold grains. Uniform lines were selected from F6 generation and bulked. Ultimately, the promising and uniform line “TG1410” later on named “Thal-2020” was selected from F7 population during 2013-14. This selected line underwent rigorous evaluation for yield potential and disease resistance during the process of evolution. In various station, adaptation, and national yield trials, this cultivar consistently outperformed standard checks (Bittle-2016, Punjab-2008 and Bhakkar-2011) with higher yield. Notably, the candidate variety TG1410 expressed a potential yield of 4513 kg ha-1 in Provincial Yield Trial 2018-19 conducted at Gram Breeding Research Sub-Station, Kallur Kot (Bhakkar), Punjab, Pakistan. The salient features of “Thal-2020” include bold, brown-colored ram-headed grains, with 100-grains weight of 27-28g, semi-erect growth habit, medium canopy, higher yield potential and resistance to Ascochyta blight and Fusarium wilt diseases. This first report on the “Thal-2020” chickpea variety highlights its promising traits, including high yield potential, disease resistance, and adaptability to various conditions. “Thal-2020” offers future benefits such as enhanced productivity, reduced pesticide use, and improved economic returns for farmers. Its introduction is expected to significantly enhance the sustainability and profitability of chickpea cultivation.
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