Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) research in India: accomplishments and future strategies

Abstract

Chickpea or gram (Cicer arietinum L.) is the premier pulse crop of India, covering 7.29 million ha area. During the past 2 decades, chickpea output has gone up from 4.75 million tonnes to 5.77 million tonnes; mainly owing to yield gain of 130 kg/ha. Significant progress has been made in enhancing productivity, reducing duration, minimizing adverse impact of biotic stresses, improving seed size and expanding its cultivation in non-traditional areas by development of improved varieties, improved production and protection technologies, and identification of more remunerative and productive cropping systems. This has helped stabilize chickpea production in the country despite its cultivation being relegated to marginal environments. Past efforts have been rewarding in insulating varieties against biotic stresses by way of standardization of screening techniques, morphological characterization of causal agents, detection of racial differences, identification of donors, and understanding mechanism of resistance besides developing integrated pest management for Helicoverpa podborer and wilt. In spite of appreciable technological advances, major breakthrough in chickpea productivity is still elusive. To meet future demand of 7.37 million tonnes by 2010, the research strategy needs to be focused on the application of biotechnological tools for the pressing problems of Helicoverpa pod-borer and drought, marker-assisted selection and screening particularly for abiotic stresses, pyramiding of resistance genes, introgression of desired genes from wild species, development of efficient plant types for various cropping systems and agro-ecologies, and integrated management of stresses (pest, nutrient, water, weed, drought) in cropping system mode. Emphasis should also be given to identify new niches for expansion of the crop.