Physiological and agro-biological traits evaluation of several local grain legumes under climatic condition of south-central region of Bulgaria

The most important cool season grain legumes (dry pea, chickpea, broad bean, lentil, lupins, grass pea and common vetch) are widely grown in many parts of the world. The aim of the current study was to test some of them under the drought-prone area of Sadovo (south-central region of Bulgaria) and to evaluate their adaptability based on physiological and agro-biological traits. The investigation was carried out at the experimental field of IPGR including several local accessions of white lupin (Lupinus albus L), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativum L.). The chlorophyll content index of the leaves, used as criteria for drought tolerance, was measured by portable CCM 200 plus- Chlorophyll Content Meter. The assessment of agro-biological traits was performed according to the International Descriptor for each crop. Under the drought stress conditions the highest value of the chlorophyll content index was observed in three lupin accessions (BGR 6341, BGR3080, BGR3085), in two from chickpea (BGR 40417 and B9E0149) and in four from grass pea (BGR 40415, BGR 4835, BGR4847, BGR4834). The highest yield potential was established in two lupin (BGR 6341 and BGR 3084), two chickpea accessions (BGR 23151 and B9E0149) and three grass pea (BGR4832 and BGR40415). The selected accessions were included in the list for further investigations concerning drought tolerance and maintenance of relatively high yield potential under drought stress conditions.