Speakers - 2026

Title: Photosynthetic efficiency of two desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum) genotypes: response to biofertilizer application

Abstract

Chickpea productivity in marginal areas, such as NE South Africa, is constrained by low soil fertility. Different biofertilizers have been used to ameliorate the adverse effects of poor soil fertility on the yield of chickpea and other legumes. However, little information is available on the effect of biofertilizer application on photosynthetic efficiency of chickpea. We assessed the effects of biofertilizer [Kelpak (K), Mycoroot (M), Rhizobium inoculation (R), M + R, K + R, and an untreated control] application on maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and operating efficiency of PSII (F′q/F′m, ΦPSII) of two desi chickpea genotypes (Acc#3 and Acc#7) in a field experiment at two contrasting sites in NE South Africa in 2021. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and the operating efficiency of PSII were measured at 50% flowering stage. The operating efficiency of PSII increased with biofertilizer application at both sites, with all biofertilizers exhibiting higher ΦPSII than the zero control plots. In contrast, biofertilizer application affected maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII at one site, with only the mycoroot-based treatments (M and M+R) increasing Fv/Fm. These findings highlight the potential of integrated biofertilizer use for improving the photosynthetic efficiency of chickpea but the mechanisms underpinning the observed responses need to be investigated.

Keywords: Chlorophyll fluorescence, maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, operating efficiency of PSII), Rhizobium inoculation