Indonesia Conference Directory

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the first rank among cool season legumes on the basis sowing area, and the crop is mostly grown in marginal areas under rainfed conditions in the world. Therefore, chickpea is exposed to high temperature and drought stresses. Extreme temperature in the near future has been predicted to increase due to climate change that caused to take place high temperature and drought stresses. Therefore, it is necessary to release cultivars to be resistant to high temperature and drought stresses to maintain stable production of chickpea. C. judaicum, C. bijugum, C. pinnatifidum and C. reticulatum have been shown to be tolerant to drought stress. Perennial wild Cicer species including C. anatolicum, C. microphyllum, C. montbretti, C. oxydon and C. songaricum were found to be tolerant drought. Wild Cicer species are considered to be superior to drought and heat stresses. Although perennial wild Cicer species have been shown to be significantly tolerant to drought stress, only two Cicer species can be crossed with the cultivated chickpea. To overcome these stresses, all Cicer species should be used in a long-term breeding program to produce chickpea cultivars that are tolerant to high temperature and drought stresses.