physiological traits of chickpea

International Journal of Agronomy and Plant Production. Vol., 4 (4), 782-786, 2013 Available online at http:// www.ijappjournal.com ISSN 2051-1914 ©2013 VictorQuest Publications

Influence of seed invigoration and water supply on morphophysiological traits of chickpea Ayda Hosseinzadeh-Mahootchi, Kazem Ghassemi-Golezani*, Saeid Zehtab-Salmasi and Mahmood Tourchi Department of Plant Eco-Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Iran. *Corresponding Author: Kazem Ghassemi-Golezani Abstract A sub-sample of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv.ILC482) seeds was kept as control and two other sub-samples with about 15% moisture content were aged at 40 °C for 10 and 12 days. Consequently, three seed lots with different levels of vigor were provided. These seed lots were soaked in distilled water at 15°C for 12 and 18 hours and then dried back to initial moisture content at a room temperature of 20-22°C. Then seeds were sown in the field as split plot factorial based on RCB design. Hydro-priming improved leaf temperature of plants. Hydro-priming also enhanced grain yield of plants from all seed lots. Plants from high vigor seed lot had higher stem height and grain yield under different irrigation treatments, compared with those from low vigor seed lots. Leaf water content of chickpea plants from hydro-primed seeds was more than the plants from unprimed seeds. It was concluded that hydro-priming can somewhat repair aged seeds and improve their performance under different irrigation treatments. Keywords: Chickpea, Hydro-priming, Leaf temperature, Water content Introduction Drought is undoubtedly one of the most important environmental stresses limiting the productivity of crops around the world (Bohnert et al 1995). Drought is also a significant yield-limiting factor in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production (Kumar and Abbo, 2001). Drought affects many morphological features and physiological processes associated with plant growth and development (Toker and Cagirgan, 1998). Thesechanges include reduction of water content and turgorloss, closure of stomata and increase of leaf temperature. The detrimental effects of high leaf temperature cause decrease in cellenlargement and plant growth (Jaleel et al., 2008). Plant processes that depend on cell volume enhancement are particularly sensitive to water deficit. Leaf expansion and leaf water content are two such sensitive processes. As water becomes limiting, stomatal conductance and transpiration decrease and leaf temperature increases. A temperature measurement on individual leaves is a good indicator of water potential (Ehrler et al., 1978) and plant stress (Reginato, 1983). Seeds begin to deteriorate on the mother plant shortly after they reach maximum quality (GhassemiGolezani and Mazloomi-Oskooyi, 2008; Ghassemi-Golezani and Hossinzadeh-Mahootchy, 2009).If the deterioration continues far enough, then seed viability will be lost (Roberts and Ellis, 1982), giving rise to slow and non-uniform germination and seedling emergence particularly under stressful conditions (Khan et al., 2003). High and rapid germination, ensure satisfactory stand establishment which may result in higher yields (GhassemiGolezani et al., 2010). One of the simple and suitable methods which can improve seedling vigor and establishment and consequently crop performance in the field is seed priming (McDonald, 2000). The beneficial effects of priming have been demonstrated for many field crops such as barley (Abdulrahmaniet al., 2007), maize (Parera and Cantliffe, 1994), lentil (Ghassemi-Golezaniet al., 2008), chickpea (Ghassemi-Golezaniet al., 2012), pinto bean (Ghassemi-Golezaniet al., 2010). These effects of priming are associated with the repairing and building up of nucleic acids, increased synthesis of proteins as well as the repairing of membranes (McDonald, 2000). Priming also enhances the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes in treated seeds (Hsu et al., 2003). The early improvements may increase the rate and uniformity of seed germination and seedling emergence (Ghassemi-Golezani et al., 2010), especially under stressful

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conditions (Ghassemi-Golezani et al., 2012). Thus, this research was carried out to investigate the effects of seed vigor on some physiological and morphological characteristics and yield of chickpea under different irrigation treatments. Materials and Methods Seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv.ILC482) were obtained from Dry-land Agricultural Research Institute of Maragheh, Iran. These seeds were divided into three sub-samples. A sub-sample was kept as control with 100% germination (V1). The other sub-samples with about 15% moisture content were artificially aged at 40°C for 10 and 12 days, reducing seed germination to %84 and 74% (V2 and V3, respectively). Consequently, three seed lots with different levels of vigor were provided. Then, each seed lot was divided into three sub- samples, one of which was kept as control (unprimed, P1) and two other samples were soaked in distilled water at 15°C for 12 (P2) and 18 (P3) hours and then dried back to initial moisture content at a room temperature of 20-22°C for 24 hours. The field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the University of Tabriz (Latitude 38˚05’ N, Longitude 46˚17’ E, Altitude 1360 m above sea level) in 2010. All the seeds were treated with benomyl at a -1 rate of 2 g kg before sowing. Seeds were hand sown in about 4 cm depth with a density of 60 seeds m 2 .Each plot consisted of 8 rows with 4 m length, spaced 25 cm apart. The experiment was arranged as split plot factorial, based on RCB design with three replications. All plots were irrigated immediately after sowing and subsequent irrigations were carried out after 70 (I1), 120 (I2) and 170 (I3) mm evaporation from class A pan. Weeds were controlled by hand during crop growth and development. Plants were protected from -1 heliothis caterpillar attack by spraying Diazinon at a rate of2 ml.l before flowering. Three leaves (top, middle and bottom leaves) of a plant from each plot were cut and weighed. Samples were then dried in an oven with 75°C for 48 h. Dry samples were weighed and water percentage in leaves was determined. A plant from each plot was marked and temperature of leaves (top, middle and bottom leaves) was measured using an infrared radiation thermometer (TES 1327). All of these measurements were carried out at 11 AM, just before irrigation. 2 At maturity, plants in 1 m of each plot were harvested and stem height, branches per plant and grain yield were determined. Analysis of variance was carried out using MSTATC software. Means were compared by applying Duncan’s multiple range tests at 5% probability. Results and Discussion The analysis of variance of data showed significant effects of irrigation level on leaf water content, leaf temperature, plant height, branches per plant and grain yield (Table 1). Means of Leaf water content, stem height, branchesper plant and grain yield per unit area significantly decreased with decreasing water availability. The highest and the lowest leaf temperatures were recorded for I3 and I1, respectively (Table 2).Increasing leaf temperature due to water stress (Table 2) is possibly related to decreasingstomatal conductance and transpiration. Under drought stress, water uptake rate cannot match the potential transpiration rate and stomata close to maintain the plant water balance (Lourtie et al., 1995). As a result, leaf temperature rises and may even exceed air temperature (Larcher, 2000). This can inhibit net photosynthesis which correlates with a decrease in the activation state of Rubisco. Decrease in the amount of active Rubisco can fully account for the temperature response of net photosynthesis (Salvucci and Crafts-Brandner, 2004).Photosynthesis is one of the most heat sensitive processes, can be completely inhibited by high temperature before other symptoms of the stress are detected (Camejo et al., 2005).Increasing leaf temperature were clearly the result ofdehydration and closure of stomataunder water stress. Decreasing net photosynthesis is themain reason for reduction in biomassaccumulation and plant height. Changes in plant height and enlargement are reflected ingrain yield (Table 2). Seed vigor had significant effects on leaf water content, leaf temperature, stem height, branches per plant and grain yield (Table 1).Plants from high vigor seed lot (V1) had higher leaf water content,plant height and grain yield compared with those from low vigor seed lots. The highest leaf temperature and branches per plant were obtained for low vigor seed lot (V3) (Table 2).Lower leaf temperature and branches per plant and higher Leaf water content, stem heightand grain yield of plants from high vigor seed lot (V1) were the result of rapid and uniform seedling emergence (Ghassemi-Golezani et al., 2012). Stem height and branches per plant were not significantly affected by hydro-priming duration (Table 1), but effects of priming duration on other traits were significant (Table 1). Leaf water content and grain yield per unit area for plants from unprimed seeds (P1) were considerably lower than those from primed seeds(P2 and P3). Plants from primed seed lots had lower leaf temperature compared with those from unprimed seed lot.Higher leaf water contentand lower leaf temperature of plants from primed seeds (Table 2) were due to rapid emergence of plants (Ghassemi-Golezani et al., 2012). Early emergence of seedlings from primed seeds caused efficient and longer use of plants from light and soil resources during growth and

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development. Consequently, grain yield was higher for plants from primed seeds compared with those from unprimed seeds. The superiority of plants from hydro-primed seeds in grain yield per unit area resulted from higher seedling establishment and production of more grains per unit area, compared with those from unprimed seeds (Ghassemi-Golezani et al., 2012). Table 1. Analysis of variance of the effects ofseed vigor and hydro-priming on chickpea under different irrigation treatments MS Leaf water Leaf Stem Branches S.O.V d.f Grain yield content temperature height Per plant Replication 2 2.457 4.295 1.783 0.454 193.627 Irrigation level 2 1140.753** 428.743** 86.367* 9.423* 5539.896** Error 4 1.753 7.110 11.945 0.605 210.365 Vigor 2 212.975** 48.741** 82.974** 2.460** 31860.589** ns ns I×V 4 12.827 4.866 23.196* 0.500 1910.877** ns ns Priming 9.881 0.077 2 134.679** 78.091** 2032.393** Duration ns ns ns ns ns I×P 4 11.142 9.130 5.654 0.212 10.629 ns ns ns ns V×P 4 24.420* 9.833 4.243 0.684 35.474 ns ns ns ns ns I×V×P 8 8.688 1.649 2.937 0.109 16.711 Error 48 7.668 4.634 6.249 0.286 74.396 C.V (%) 3.93 9.20 9.27 18.84 19.11 ns, *,**: No significant andsignificant at p≤0.05 and p≤0.01, respectively Table 2.Means of some physiological and morphological parameters of chickpea affected by seedvigor and hydro-priming durationunder different irrigation treatments Leaf water Leaf Stem height Number of Grain content temperature (cm) branches yield Treatments -2 (%) (ºC) (g.m ) Irrigation I1 76.93a 19.25c 28.33a 3.52a 60.43a I2 70.44b 23.77b 27.61a 2.47b 42.98ab I3 63.93c 27.19a 24.94b 2.53b 32.03b Vigor V1 73.59a 22.13b 28.98a 2.50b 84.63a V2 69.48b 23.27b 25.82b 2.97a 28.69b V3 68.22b 24.81a 26.08b 3.06a 22.11b Hydro-priming P1 67.89b 25.32a 26.43a 2.781a 35.13b P2 72.07a 22.81b 27.62a 2.885a 50.02a P3 71.33a 22.08b 26.83a 2.856a 50.29a Different letters at each column indicate significant difference at p≤ 0.05 I1, I2 and I3: Irrigation after 70,120 and 170 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively V1, V2and V3: Seed lots with 100, 85 and 74% viability, respectively P1, P2 and P3: unprimed, primed for 12 and 18 hours, respectively Interaction of irrigation × seed vigor for stem height and grain yield per unit area were significant (Table 1).Plants from high vigor seed lot (V1) under different irrigation treatments were higher than those from low vigor seed lots (Table 3). Grain yield per plant and grain yield per unit area among plants from various seed lots diminished with increasing water limitation (Table 3). No significant interaction of irrigation × hydropriming on all traits was found (Table 1). The advantage of high vigor seeds in improving field performance and grain yield per unit area of chickpea directly related with rapid seedling emergence, optimal stand establishment and production of more grains per unit area (Ghassemi-Golezani et al., 2012). Early emergence and high density of plants from vigorous seeds increased competition of individual plants for water and other resources under limited irrigation conditions. As a result, the superiority of plants from high vigor seeds decreased under low water supply (Table 3).

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Table 3. Means of height and grain yield per unit area for chickpea seed lots under different irrigation treatments Traits Treatment V1 V2 V3 I1 32.18a 27.27bc 27.49bc Stem height (cm) I2 28.64b 25.33cd 26.91bc I3 26.11bcd 24.86cd 23.84d I1 118.5a 34.79d 28de -2 Grain yield (g.m ) I2 77.99b 29.49de 21.44e I3 57.40c 21.79e 16.89f Different letters at each column indicate significant difference at p≤ 0.05 I1, I2 and I3: Irrigation after 70,120 and 170 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively V1, V2and V3: Seed lots with 100, 85 and 74% viability, respectively

Figure 1.Water content of chickpea leaves for different unprimed and primed seed lots Different letters at each column indicate significant difference at p≤ 0.05 V1, V2and V3: Seed lots with 100, 85 and 74% viability, respectively P1,P2 and P3: non-primed, primed for 12 and 18 hours, respectively Interaction of seed vigor× hydro-priming for leaf water content was significant (Table 1). Hydro-priming improved water content of chickpea leaves from different seed lots (Figure 1). Beneficial effects of hydropriming on leaf water content of chickpea plants could be attributed to efficient and longer use of plants from available resources by early establishment of seedlings. References Abdulrahmani B, Ghassemi-Golezani K, Valizadeh M and Feizi-Asl V. 2007. Seed priming and seedling establishment of barley (HordeumvulgareL.). J. Food, Agric. Environ. 5: 179-184. Bohnert HJ, Nelson DE, and JensenRG. 1995.Adaptations to environmental stress. Plant Cell. 7: 1099-1111. Camejo D, Rodriguez P, Morales MA, AmicoJMD, Torrecillas A and Alarcón JJ. 2005. High temperature effects on photosynthetic activity of two tomato cultivars with different heat susceptibility. J. Plant Physiol.162: 281-89. EhrlerWL, Idso SB, Jacleson RD and Reginato RJ. 1978. Wheat canopy temperature: Relation to plant water potential. Agron. J. 70: 251-256. Ghassemi-Golezani K and Hossinzadeh-Mahootchy A. 2009.Changes in seed vigor of faba bean (ViciafabaL.) cultivars during development and maturity. Seed Sci. Technol. 37:713-720. Ghassemi-Golezani K and Mazloomi- Oskooyi R. 2008. Effect of water supply on seed quality development in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var.). J. Plant Prod. 2: 117-124. Ghassemi-Golezani K, Aliloo AA, Valizadeh M and Moghaddam M. 2008. Effects of different priming techniques on seed invigoration and seedling establishment of lentil (Lens culinarisMedik).J. Food Agric. Environ. 6: 222-226.

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