Chickpea herbicide tolerance

To evaluate chickpea herbicide tolerance, visual scoring scales are used, such as the EWRC or simplified 0 to 9 scales, where the maximum score corresponds to the absence of phytotoxicity symptoms. Additionally, instrumental methods are employed, including NDVI index measurement and biochemical analysis of antioxidant enzyme activity in plant tissues.

Highly tolerant genotypes are those that do not show significant chlorosis, necrosis, or growth retardation upon exposure to chemicals, while maintaining their 1000-kernel weight and overall yield. Sensitive varieties react to treatment with growth inhibition, which can lead to reduced seed germination energy and production losses.

The technologically limited selection of herbicides makes variety tolerance a key factor in crop protection. Due to the risk of phytotoxicity from post-emergence preparations, agronomic practice often prioritizes soil-applied herbicides, as variety tolerance directly determines the possibility of extending the application window for plant protection products without compromising the crop.