DPPH radical scavenging activity and contents of H2O2, malondialdehyde and proline in determining salinity tolerance in chickpea seedlings.

The involvement of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and contents of H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline was investigated in determining salinity tolerance among seedlings of thirty chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes having different pedigrees. Chickpea genotypes, including cultivars and advanced lines were grown for 7 days under control and salt stress (50 mM NaCl) conditions. The genotypes showed differential response to salt stress in terms of growth, DPPH radical scavenging activity and contents of H2O2, MDA and proline in seedlings. On the basis of seedling growth, the genotypes having better performance under stress conditions had reduced levels of H2O2 and MDA contents, but increased levels of proline and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Stress tolerance index for these parameters was also determined. Agglomerative hierarchal clustering by Pearson correlation coefficient grouped the genotypes into two major clusters — MC I and MC II. MC II and A1-1 sub-cluster of MC-I comprised mainly of genotypes that showed higher stress resistance levels for the respective parameters in comparison to genotypes in other sub-clusters. Thus, it is possible to identify salt-tolerant genotypes on the basis of above parameters without a field trial.

Inheritance of pod and seed traits in chickpea.

A 4 x 4 full-diallel cross was studied to estimate the gene effects and genetic parameters of pod and seed traits. According to Hayman’s method, additive genetic variance was significant for pod length and seed length and width, also, both additive and dominance genetic variance were significant for pod thickness and width. As additive gene effects were significant for pod and seed traits, it is suggesting the selection of this traits early generations. Partial dominance was important for traits. The high narrow sense heritability of pod and seed traits was between 86 and 97%.

Qualidade das sementes de diferentes genótipos de grão-de-bico produzidas no norte de Minas Gerais / Quality of the seeds of different genotypes of chickpea produced in the north of Minas Gerais

A expansão das áreas para o cultivo de grão-de-bico depende da produção de sementes detentoras de qualidade superior. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas as principais características físicas, fisiológicas e sanitárias em sementes de seis genótipos de grão-de-bico produzidas em Montes Claros, Norte de Minas Gerias. As variáveis analisadas foram o grau de umidade, a pureza física, a massa de mil sementes, a uniformidade, a porcentagem de germinação, a primeira contagem do teste de germinação, o índice de velocidade de germinação e de emergência, a massa seca da parte aérea das plântulas e a ocorrência de microrganismos e de pragas de armazenamento nas sementes. A qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária das sementes foi afetada pelos diferentes genótipos de grão-de-bico analisados. As variações quanto à qualidade física das sementes entre os genótipos de grão-de-bico não estão relacionadas à qualidade fisiológica e sanitária destas. De maneira geral, as sementes do genótipo CNPH 08-04 apresentaram qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária superior à qualidade das sementes dos demais genótipos.

The expansion of the areas for chickpea culture depends on the production of seeds of superior quality. In this study, it was evaluated the main physical, physiological and sanitary characteristics in seeds of six genotypes of chickpea produced in Montes Claros, North of Minas Gerais. The analyzed variables were the moisture content, the physical purity, the mass of a thousand seeds, the uniformity, the percentage of germination, the first count of the test germination, the rate of speed germination and emergency, the dry mass of the aerial part of the seedling and the occurrence of microorganisms and plagues in seed storage. The physical, physiological and sanitary quality of the seeds was affected by different genotypes of the chickpea analyzed. The variations in relation to the physical quality of the seeds between the genotypes of chickpea are not related to sanitary and physiological quality of them. In general, the seeds of genotype CNPH 08-04 showed physical, physiological and sanitary superior quality in relation to the seeds of other genotypes.