Researchers from the University of Western Australia (UWA)'s Institute of
Agriculture are conducting the world's largest chickpea experiment on
drought resistance. The project, led by Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique
aims to understand how chickpea adapts to terminal drought, experienced in
most seasons in southern Australia.

Based on results from previous research, 10 lines of chickpea with similar
flowering times were selected for preliminary studies. These lines were used
to investigate physiological and biochemical mechanisms for adaptation to
terminal drought in the UWA glasshouse. The lines will be studied for
drought resistance, including leaf water potential, gas exchange
characteristics, seed filling rate, the role of abscisic acid, and key
enzymes in seed development.

[www.news.uwa.edu.au]
<[www.news.uwa.edu.au]-
experiment-chickpeas-under-way-uwa>