Rapid generation advancement in chickpea

Abstract

Development of homozygous lines from segregating
\npopulations following hybridization takes several years if
\none generation is taken every year. Plant breeders have
\nused various methods to accelerate generation turnover.
\nIn chickpea (Cicer arietinum), many breeding programs
\nsuccessfully take two generations per year – one in the
\nfield during the crop season and the other in off-season
\neither in greenhouse or in an off-season nursery. In India,
\nchickpea is grown in winter season and sowing generally
\nstarts in October. The length of crop season varies from
\n90 to 160 days depending on latitude, altitudes and
\ngrowing conditions (soil type, irrigation, etc). The offseason
\ncrop is taken during summer in the high latitude
\nareas, eg, Lahaul and Spiti in Himalayas (latitude 31°44’
\nto 32°59’ N, longitude 76°46’ to 78°41’ E, altitude 5,480
\nto 6,400 m). Similar off-season nurseries are available in
\nmany other countries, eg, Terbol in the Beqaa valley in
\nLebanon (latitude 33°47’ N, longitude 35°59’ E, altitude
\n1220 m)...