Chickpea Research

Chickpeas, (Cicer arietinum L.) are grown on approximately 10.8 million hectares in 34 countries for a world production of 7 .5 million metric tons of grain. The average yield of 700 kg/ha is rather low. While there are many reasons for low productivity, this circular addresses just one – the lack of high yielding, disease resistant cultivars in various regions in the world including South Dakota. During the 1985 season SDSU researchers began an attempt to increase the yield level of chickpeas by incorporating resistance genes into susceptible but high yielding genotypes. Normally, chickpeas are grown with conserved moisture, so the first priority is to generate material suitable to rain-fed conditions. Fusarium wilt disease is common in some countries, while Ascochyta blight is prevalent in others. Ascochyta blight is found in South Dakota. During 1985, the disease developed uniformly throughout the experimental plots at Highmore, helping us identify lines resistant to Ascochyta blight disease. Because of low rainfall, low humidity, and high temperature, Highmore is better suited for growing chickpeas than Brookings. However, early drought stress in 1985, followed by unexpected heavy rains at the end of the growing season, caused heavy pod losses in all chickpea experimental sites in the state. The bulk of the chickpea research was conducted at Highmore because the environment was favorable. In addition, the majority of individual selections made in early generations and/or in advanced materials were carried out at Highmore. High humidity and continuous rainfall prevented early planting and early maturity at Brookings. However, an effort was made to (1) collect data from one yield trial, (2) make hybridizations, and (3) conduct cultural practice studies. Also, several chickpea lines were tested in different nurseries at four other locations in South Dakota and at one location in Sidney, NE. Planting began April 13 at Wall and was completed by planting the increase (SDGI-6) on June 6, 1985, at Highmore. Harvesting was started at Wall on August 8 and completed on September 17 at Bristol. All early generations and screening nurseries were grown in single-row plots with 60-cm (2-ft] spacing between rows. Replicated trials were planted in four-row plots with 30-cm (1-ft] spacing between rows. Ten-cm [4-inch) spacing between plants within rows was maintained in all nurseries. Treflan at the rate of 1 ½ pt/acre was preincorporated to control annual grasses and small-seeded annual broadleaves such as pigweed and lambsquarter. The season, as a whole, was very favorable for screening materials for Ascochyta blight disease and for identifying promising high yielding lines

Improvement in Eastern and Southern Africa—Annual Research Planning Meeting 1993, 25-27 Oct 1993

The ICRISAT/African Development Bank (AfDB) Pigeonpea Improvement Project aims to develop and propagate the use of improved cultivars and management practices among pigeonpea farmers in eastern and southern Africa, and to increase the utilization of this crop in both regions. This publication is a report of the Annual Research Planning Meeting 1993, held at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 25-27 Oct 1993 and attended by ICRISAT scientists, AfDB representatives, and NARS scientists from 11 countries. Research progress made since the project was launched is reviewed; the major production/utilization constraints in each country, and ways to alleviate them, are discussed; and workplans (detailing proposed activities, methodologies, budgets, etc.) are presented for collaborative pigeonpea research in eastern and southern Africa

Improvement of Pigeonpea in Eastern and Southern Africa Annual Research Planning Meeting 1994 21-23 Sep 1994

This publication is a report of the second Annual Research Planning Meeting of the ICRISAT/African Development Bank Pigeonpea Improvement Project. The 35 delegates included scientists and senior research administrators from nine countries in the southern and eastern Africa region (Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia), and from ICRISAT. Progress made in collaborative pigeonpea research was reviewed at the Meeting, and detailed workplans and budgets formulated for research and extension work in each country for the 1994/95 crop season. The recommendations made at the Meeting stress several aspects, including the need for more rapid technology transfer, better availability of seed, regional nurseries for drought and wilt resistance screening, and more training programs, especially on pigeonpea utilization, in order to increase both local consumption and export

Pigeonpea in eastern and southern Africa: summary proceedings of the Launching Meeting for the African Development Bank/ICRISAT Collaborative Pigeonpea Project for Eastern and Southern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 17-18 Mar 1992 and Lilongwe, Malawi, 30-31 Mar 1992

Two meetings took place in March 1992 to launch an African Development Bank-funded collaborative pigeonpea project for eastern and southern Africa. This resulting publication was specifically prepared by ICRISAT for submission to the African Development Bank. It is divided into three sections. The first consists of introductory and background information, the second deals with the Nairobi meeting, and the third the Lilongwe meeting. Summaries of the 19 papers presented at the meetings are included. These cover Country Papers that are statements of the status of pigeonpea research in each country, and Special Topic Papers that provide additional information on various aspects of the crop. The full texts of the opening and closing speeches and the participating countries' lists of national program requirements are also included. Of particular importance are the recommendations and suggested work plans for initiating collaborative pigeonpea research in the two regions

Chickpeas - A Potential Crop for the Midwest

This bulletin provides a brief overview of chickpeas. Information regarding plant description, nutritional value, seeding and growth details, and performance trails is included