Agronomic Characterization of Advanced Lines of Chickpea Kabuli Type, in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico.

The northwestern region of Mexico has the highest production of chickpea kabuli type in the country. From this region, the states of Sinaloa, Sonora, and South Baja California produce more than 80% which is destined for export. During crop seasons 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, four different trials in four localities were established in the state of Sinaloa with the objective to characterize agronomically chickpea advanced lines generated by the National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture, and Livestock Research (INIFAP), including the check cultivar Blanco Sinaloa-92. The highest average grain yield in both seasons and in all localities was shown by the line CUGA09-3168 with 2587 kg/ha, followed by line CUGA08-743 with 2480 kg/ha, as compared with 2315 kg/ha by Blanco Sinaloa-92. The average number of days for the first flower to appear was 44, and the average plant length was 71.7 cm. Stem growth habit had an average grade of 3 which correspond to semi-erect. However, cultivar PROGRESO 95 and line CUGA 09-3160 showed the best phenotypic erect stem with grade of 3.5 to 4, in the different environments evaluated. The average number of secondary branches of the materials evaluated was 8, with a height of 39.3 cm to the first flower. Lines HOGA-021, HOGA-067, HOGA 2002-6-3, HOGA340-2-2, HOGA 2004-20-6, and CUGA 08-743 showed a resistant reaction to Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race 5 under artificial inoculation.