I - --ii

226
cultivars which could be planted in winter under rainfed conditions in the Karaj
area. During 1978, 650 white and 540 black-seeded lines from our chickpea
collection were planted in winter, without irrigation. Twenty-seven lines were
selected that exhibited tolerance to cold, blight and drought. Their yields were
evaluated in 1979 in a replicated trial, and in 1980 the most productive lines were
te: ,,"in order to determine the suitable date of planting.
Research Activities, 1980-81
1. Observation nurseries: 90 lines from our collection were planted to determine
drought, cold, and blight-resistant material.
2. White and black chickpeas yield test: 10 lines of each were planted in a
replicated yield trial.
3. Plant spacing and density trial: A high yielding cultivar was planted under
two row spacings (20 and 50 cm) and three seeding rates (60, 80, and 100 kg/
ha) in order to determine the best combination of these two factors.
4. Herbicide trial: Different herbicides are being tested in a replicted trial to
control weeds in winter sown chickpeas.
In the future we hope to conduct research programs in cooperation with
ICARDA, especially on winter planting.
References
KAISER, W.J. 1972. Occurrence of three fungal diseases of chickpea in Iran. FAO Plant Prot. Bull.
20(4):73-79.
KAISER, W.J. 1973. Factors affecting growth, sporulation, pathogenicity and survival of Ascochyta
rabiei.Mycologia 65:444-457.
KAISER, W.J., DANESH, D., OKHOVAT, M. and MOSSAHEBI, H. 1968. Diseases of pulse
crops (edible legumes) in Iran. Plant Dis. Reptr. 52(9):687-691.
MOSSAHEBI, H. 1967. The reason for damping off in chickpea in Iran. B.S. Thesis. Faculty of
Agriculture, Tehran University.
OKHOVAT, M. 1969. Legume fungi diseases in Iran. Pages 297-312 in First Plant Protection
Congress in Iran.
OKHOVAT, M. 1974. Chickpea blight in Iran. Regional Pulse Improvement Project, Faculty of
Agriculture, Tehran University.