Screening and identification of salt-tolerant lines in novel chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasms

Salinity is the most serious abiotic stress for plants growth. In the present study, the response of eighteen novel chickpea genotypes was studied under salinity. Salt stress significantly (p < 0.05) reduces plant growth (shoot length, shoot weight, root length, root weight, etc.) and impacts physiological parameters (relative water content, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll content) in the selected genotypes. Based on the percentage reduction of the above-mentioned attributes, the experimental genotypes were divided into salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant categories. Genotypes IC326761, IC375927, IC223042, and IC269123 showed salt tolerance, while the genotypes IC327642 and IC326265 were considered as salt sensitive. Tolerant genotypes (IC326761, IC375927, IC223042, and IC269123) were able to maintain the maximum dry matter, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll content, and relative water content under saline conditions. The results showed a significant correlation between salt tolerance and physiological properties of chickpea. Hence, these physiological properties could be used as a marker for the selection of salt-tolerant chickpea lines. These markers can significantly separate salt potential genotypes from a large number of germplasm sets at the germination stage using pot-culture which will help to a large extent in reducing labor costs during field trials. The current study has identified new donors for salinity tolerance that will further contribute to the development of high-yielding salt-tolerant chickpea varieties.