I - --ii

improving their scientific capability. Their scientific and technical staff are
encouraged to visit the ICARDA Center for varying periods, ranging from a few
days to 6 months, for exchange of ideas, material or for formal training. The
program often organizes conferences and workshops with a view to provide an
opportunity for fellow scientists from the world over to meet and discuss latest
information on the subject. Proceedings are published and widely distributed.
Also literature on different subjects is compiled and made available to interested
persons.
Perhaps the biggest achievement in the chickpea improvement is the advancement
of sowing date from spring to winter in the Mediterranean region. Doubling
of yield has been observed by this single change. In order to make this feasible,
ascochyta blight resistant and cold-tolerant lines are needed. Such lines have
been identified from the germplasm collection and also developed through hybridization
and are being made available to the national programs through
international nurseries. Also, the associated technology has been worked out
which aids further in improving the yield. Countries in the ICARDA region
which do not practice winter sowing have an excellent opportunity to increase
their production substantially by adopting this practice.
REFERENCES
de CADOLLE, A. 1882 L'origine des plantes cultivdes. Paris. pp. 258.
GONZALEZ FRAGOSO, R. 1921. New or little-known Sphaeropsidales of the Spanish Fungus
flora (in Spanish). Ascochyta Espafiola para el Progreso de las Cicncias. Congreso de Oporto, VI.
Cicencias Naturales: 35-37.
HAMAWI, F.M. 1979. Food legume production: the contribution of West Asia and North Africa to
the world situation. In Food Legume Improvement and Development. IDRC Publication. 15-22.
I.ADIZINSKY, G. and ADLER. A. 1976. The origin of chickpea, Cicer arietinum L. Euphytica
25:211-217.
VAN DER MAESEN, L.i.G. 1972. (icer L.a monograph of the genus, with special reference to the
chickpea (Cicer arietinvin L.h its ecology and cultivation. Commun. Agric. Univ. Wageningen
72-10, pp. 342.
VAVILOV. N.I. 1926. Studies on the origin of cultivated plants (in Russian). Leningrad:129-238.
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