Exploiting Response to Photoperiod to Improve Adaptation and Yield of Chickpea in the Canadian Prairies

Exploiting Response to Photoperiod to Improve Adaptation and Yield of Chickpea in the Canadian Prairies

The project has three phases: In the first phase, chickpea genotypes were evaluated in the growth chambers for their flowering response under both long (16 h) and short days (10 h) and 22 0C and 16 0C day and night temperatures. Variability among the genotypes in their flowering response under either long or short days was identified. In the second phase of the study eight selected chickpea genotypes with extreme responses to photoperiod will be evaluated to determine the timing and duration of the photoperiod sensitive phase and the time of floral initiation and to establish whether photoperiod sensitivity ends at floral initiation or if it extends further into the phases of flower development. These same eight genotypes will be further characterized in a factorial combination of two photoperiods: 10 h and 16 h and three temperatures regimes: 16/8 0C, 20/12 0C and 24/16 0C (day/night). This study allows us to determine flowering response of chickpea genotypes grown in a range of thermal regimes combined with either long or short days. In the third phase of the study, chickpea RILs derived from a cross between ICCV 96029 and CDC Frontier and their parents will be used for mapping genes for early flowering, photoperiod insensitivity and reaction to ascochyta blight.