Selection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) for yield and symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability under salt stress

This research was aimed at selecting chickpea for improved symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) under saline conditions. 200 Moroccan lines were screened for nitrogenase activity, dry weight, nodule mass, plant colour and total nitrogen under 0 mM, 25 mM and 50 mM NaCl in screenhouse nitrogen-free sandbenches. Inoculum was a mixture of 4 Moroccan salt-resistant Rhizobium strains. Seven lines were selected as tolerant to salt for SNF. In winter 1998 these lines were tested on-station in a saline and a nonsaline soil for salt tolerance with 2 checks. The salt reduced yield by 26 to 38% according to genotypes. Based on data from the 2 soils MCA103, MCA131 and MCA250 were selected as tolerant lines to the salt for SNF and yield. In 1999 these 3 tolerant lines were evaluated for production on-farm in 2 regions. The 3 lines over-yielded the checks. MCA250 was the most productive line on both sites.