Effect of irrigation withholding in reproductive stages and metanol and bio fertilizer application on yield and some biochemical traits of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Introduction Drought is the most severe abiotic stress factor limiting plant growth and crop production. Many physiological processes in plants are impaired by drought stress. Also this stress can damage the photosynthesis of plants, pigments and plastids, reduce chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and other carotenoids, hydrolyze proteins and prevalent photochemical reactions in most plants. The response of plants to droght stress depends on several factors such as developmental stage, severity, duration of stress, and cultivar genetics. Several strategies have been developed in order to decrease the water limitation-induced toxic effects on plant growth, among them use of biofertilizers (Seyed Sharifi and Namvar, 2016) and methanol (Ramberg et al., 2002) play a key role in yield improvement. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of irrigation withholding in reproductive stages, biofertilizers and methanol application on yield and and some biochemical traits of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Materials and methods A factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2017. The area is located at 38˚ 15′ N latitude and 48˚ 15′ E longitude with an elevation of 1350 m above mean sea level. The experimental factors were included: application of methanol at three levels (foliar application with water as control, application 20 and 30 volume percent), bio fertilizers at four levels (no application as control, rhizobium legominozarum application, both application mycorhyza+ rhizobium legominozarum, application of mycorhyza+ rhizobium legominozarum +Psesomonas) and three irrigation levels (full irrigation as control, severe water limitation or irrigation withholding at flowering stage, moderate water limitation or irrigation withholding at podding). Foliar application with methanol was done in two stage of period growth (productive and reproductive stages). Results The results dicated that irrigation withholding at flowering stage increased proline content and antioxidant enzymes activity such as catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, but decreased chlorophyll content, quantum yield and grain yield of chickpea. Methanol application decresed antioxidant enzymes activity but quantum yield, proline and chlorophyll content increased. Also, bio fertilizers application increased quantum yield, proline and chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzymes activity and grain yield of Chickpea. Full irrigation with application of high rates of methanol, both application of mycorhyza with rhizobium legominozarum and Psesomonas increased grain yield 111% compared to no application of methanol and bio fertilizers under irrigation withholding at flowering stage condition. Generally, it seems that application of methanol and biofertilizers can be as a proper tool for increasing grain yield of chickpea under water limitation condition