Improved Chickpea varieties for Karnataka State

India is the largest producer of chickpea, contributing 65% of world’s annual production. In India it is grown in a wide range of agro-climatic regions. Based on crop duration these regions can be classified as short (Southern/peninsular India), medium (Central India) and long (Northern India) duration environments. In recent years, southern India is becoming major contributor to the national production. Andra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the major states growing chickpea in this region. In Karnataka, it is mainly cultivated in northern part of the state. In the last decade the area and production of chickpea in the state were increased by two times (Table 1). This accounts for only 1.5% increase of state’s share in total chickpea production of the country, as against more than 5% increase of area. The productivity is also low (591 kg/ha), when compared to the national average productivity of 800 kg/ha. These figures draw the attention towards constraints of chickpea production in the state and strategies to overcome these constraints.

Table 1. Area, production and productivity of chickpea in Karnataka.

Year	Area		Production		Productivity (kg/ha)
	Karnataka(lakh ha)	Percent to India	Karnataka (lakh ton)	Percent to India
2000-01	3.70	7.30	2.40	6.22	648
2005-06	4.20	6.06	2.30	4.11	548
2009-10	9.70	11.90	5.70	7.68	591

The varieties developed by IARI and other high yielding varieties released for cultivation in Karnataka are presented in table 2.

Table 2. High yielding chickpea varieties released for Peninsular Zone/Karnataka

Variety	Seed type	Grain yield (tonnes/ha)	Duration (days)	Special features
Varieties released by IARI
BGD 103	Desi	1.5-1.6	85-90	Bold seeds, Resistant to Fusarium wilt
BG 1105	Kabuli	1.4-1.5	85-90	Medium early, Moderately resistant to wilt and dry root rot, Excellent cooking quality
Other varieties released for Karnataka state
MNK 1	Kabuli	1.3	100	Extra large seeds, moderately resistant to Fusarium wilt
Phule G 95311	Kabuli	1.4-1.5	90-95	Bold seeds, Resistant Fusarium wilt
ICCV 2 (Sweta)	Kabuli	1.0-1.2	80-85	Early maturity, Resistant to Fusarium wilt
JG 11	Desi	1.5-1.6	85-90	Early maturity, Resistant to Fusarium wilt
ICCV10 (Bharati)	Desi	1.4-1.5	95-100	Resistant to wilt and root rot, drought tolerant

Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi in collaboration with University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad has developed two early maturing chickpea varieties viz., BGD 103 (Desi) and BG 1105 (Kabuli). These varieties are recommended for cultivation in short duration environment of Karnataka.

1.    BGD 103:

This variety is developed from the cross (JG-62 x ICC-12237) x JG-62 and released for cultivation during 2009. It is released for Karnataka State Agricultural Zone-8. It is a bold seeded desi type chickpea variety with a seed weight of 30-32 g/100 seeds. It matures in 85-90 days. This variety is resistant to wilt, with grain yield potential of 1.5 – 1.6 t/ha. It is most suitable variety for replacing the traditionally cultivated variety, Bheema in irrigated areas. This variety with large seed size is suitable for havesting as immature green seed for vegetable or table purpose and also as mature dry seeds for flour or other culinary purpose.

Salient features:

• Bold seeded desi variety
• High yielding
• Moderately resistant to wilt
• Early maturity
• High test weight

2.    BG 1105:

This variety is developed from the double cross (C-104 x BG-1003) x (ICC-88503 x BG-1048). It is released for cultivation during 2009, for Karnataka State Agricultural Zones- 1, 2, 3 and 8 covering north and transitional tract of Karnataka. It is a bold seeded kabuli type chickpea variety with a seed weight of 29-30 g/100 seeds. It matures in 85-90 days and moderately resistant wilt and dry root rot. This variety has grain yield potential of 1.4 – 1.5 t/ha under rainfed condition.

Salient features:

• Medium early
• Moderately resistant to wilt and dry root rot
• Resistant to lodging and shattering
• Excellent cooking quality
• Uniform attractive bold seed size