ASSESSMENT OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arientum L.) ON PHYSIO-MORPHIC ATTRIBUTES UNDER WATER DEFICIT CONDITIONS AT SEEDLING STAGE

Chickpea is a crucial legume because of its nutritional content, and it is utilised as human food and animal feed all over the world. Water deficit reduced chickpea grain yield by up to 30%-40%. Screening existing germplasm for drought tolerance in chickpeas is the initial step. In the year 2020, the experiment was held at the Pulses Research Institute in Faisalabad. Twenty-two Desi chickpea genotypes were evaluated on physio-morphic features at the seedling stage. Under 50 percent and 100 percent Field capacity, Desi chickpea genotypes D-14005 and D-13011 lines maintained root/shoot ratio, relative water contents, and excised leaf water loss. In yield trails, the lines can be studied further. The criteria proposed for selecting drought-tolerant chickpea genotypes are extremely effective.