Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) breeding in Morocco: genetic gain and stability of grain yield and seed size under winter planting conditions

Grain yield and seed size are key breeding objectives for the chickpea breeding program in Morocco. Six winter-type chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties released between 1992 and 2015, and two candidate lines, were evaluated under different environments in order to study the stubility of grain yield and seed size across locations and to assess the genetic gain.. The varieties and candidates lines were evaluated in field experiments using a randomized complete block design with four replications in 9 different environments. The results showed that in 27 years of breeding, the average value of hundred seed weight improved from 33 to 47 g. Greater genetic progress was made for seed size than for grain yield. Average yearly genetic gains of 1.30 were recorded for seed size. Most varieties had wide adaptation and responded positively to the increase in environmental index. However, differences between varieties in terms of adaptation and stability were observed. A clear increase in seed size, an important market trait for chickpea in Morocco, is observed in the more recent improved genotypes. The improvement in seed size had limited penalty on yield as shown by a joint stable to slightly increasing or decreasing in grain yield thought years of breeding. These results could help draw more attention to the importance of winter-sown chickpea and enhance its adoption in Morocco. The end results could be the enhancement of national food production and security.

Automated summary

This study evaluated key breeding objectives of grain yield and seed size in the chickpea breeding program in Morocco, finding that there was a significant genetic progress in seed size over 27 years of breeding, with an average yearly genetic gain of 1.30. The improvement in seed size had limited penalty on yield, indicating potential for enhancing national food production and security.