A note on the evolution of kabuli chickpeas as shown by induced mutations in Cicer reticulatum Ladizinsky

Two distinct chickpeas of the domestic chickpea, C. arietinum L., exist and are referred to as 'desi' or microsperma and 'kabuli' or macrosperma. Cicer reticulatum Ladiz. is considered to be the wild progenitor of the domestic chickpea. However, the morphological variation in 18 original accessions of C. reticulatum is narrower than those of the domestic chickpeas. The aim of the study is to increase the variability in C. reticulatum. In M-2 generation, a mutant with white flower color was isolated despite of the fact that the parent has the pink flower. Although seed coat color of the parent was dark brown, the mutant was cream like 'kabuli' chickpea. It is commonly accepted that the large seeded domestic 'kabuli' chickpeas originated from the small seeded 'desi' chickpeas, but the induced mutants (white flower and cream seed coat color) of C. reticulatum may suggest an additional path for the evolution of 'kabuli' chickpea. 'Kabuli' chickpeas could have originated from spontaneous mutants of C. reticulatum. In M-3 generation, multipinnate leaf, erect growth habit, green seed and double- podded chickpeas were isolated. Among these progenies, morphologic variability increased and approached domesticated chickpea. Based on historical records and the induced mutants obtained from this study, the domestic 'kabuli' chickpea could have directly emerged from C. reticulatum in ancient Eastern Turkey.