S13 - Session P3 - Low water provision differently affects plant growth and seed mineral profile of kabuli and desi chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)

Authors: Marta Nunes da Silva *, Janaína S Medeiros, Carla S Santos, Marta W Vasconcelos

Chickpea production has increased worldwide in the last decades, either by single production, inclusion in vegetable gardens or intercropping with fruit trees. The recovery of under-exploited traditional varieties and the identification of varieties able to sustain drought events due to climate change could contribute to fostering biodiversity and promoting environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, the exploitation of traditional varieties, such as black coloured chickpeas, and the resilience degree of distinct varieties to low water provision have not been poorly explored. Here, seeds of a commercial kabuli (white) chickpea and a traditional desi (black) genotype were germinated and grown in a climate chamber under distinct water provision (WP) conditions (90%, 50% or 25% of the field capacity, designated as optimal (OWP), moderate (MWP) and low (LWP), respectively). At pod filling, plants were analysed for morphological parameters and seeds for their mineral content. In kabuli, MWP and LWP led to an average increase of 13% in root length, whereas in desi roots were 5% longer only at LWP. Root and shoot dry weights were negatively affected by MWP and LWP, up to 47% in kabuli and 30% in desi. In kabuli, the number of seeds per plant significantly decreased by 54% at MWP and LWP, while in desi a 39% decrease was observed only at LWP. Seed mineral profile was also more affected in kabuli than in desi: in the first, phosphorus (P) decreased by 33% and 38% and magnesium (Mg) by 29% and 31% at MWP and LWP, respectively. Importantly, at MWP and LWP, desi seeds had a 47% and 65% higher zinc (Zn) concentration than kabuli’s. Taken together, results demonstrate the higher resilience of desi to low water supplies, through higher biomass accumulation, seed production and higher P, Mg and Zn concentrations in seeds at lower water provisions, as compared with kabuli.