Abstract

Among the unfavorable environmental conditions, water deficit is the most significant factor that adversely affects plant growth, development and productivity. To determine the effects of drought stress and N fertilizer on yield, yield components and grain protein profiling pattern of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) a field experiment was conducted on a clay soil, in Razi University of Kermanshah, Iran. The experiment was a split- factorial design with three replications. The main treatment was drought stress (severe drought stress, moderate drought stress and no drought stress). The sub treatment was four cultivars of chickpea, Azad, Bivanij, Hashem and ILC482 and 2 N levels (0 and 25 kg/ha). The results showed that the effects of drought stress on yield and yield component, effect of cultivars on grain yield and protein yield were significant. With increase level of drought stress yield, yield components and protein yield decreased. Therefore, Bivanij cultivar had highest production of chickpea (grain yield and grain protein yield) and Hashem cultivar had a lowest them. Application of small starter N fertilizer (25 kg/ha) had better effect on grain yield, yield components and grain protein yield compared to the control (0 kg /ha N). Therefore, we can increase yield and grain protein yield of chickpea by irrigation and application of small starter N fertilizer. Also the results revealed that drought stress and N fertilizer no effects on grain protein banding patterns in chickpea cultivars.

Key words: Chickpea, drought stress, N fertilizer, protein, Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), yield.