Bioenergetic approach to the evaluation of source material for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) breeding in the Lower Volga region

The study of chickpea varieties (Cicer arietinum L.) from the VIR collection made it possible to perform a differentiated assessment of the biochemical composition of seeds, vegetative and generative traits. Based on the content of nutrients in chickpea seeds, gross energy was calculated. It has been established that the amplitude of gross energy variation in 1 kg of dry chickpea seeds is observed in the range of 18.85…20.93 MJ/kg. The share of nutrients in the total value of the energy value of chickpea seeds varies within the following limits: protein - 24.8 ... 31.5%; fat - 9.3 ... 12.0%; fiber - 3.3 ... 5.5%; nitrogen free extractives - 53.1 ... 60.3%. Variety samples with a high value of gross energy (k-430, k-388, and k-434) are selected. The content of crude protein of more than 24.0% was in varieties k-1183, and k-2299. The fat content of more than 7.0% in seeds was in varieties k-1724, k-2359, and k-2571. A wide range of variability of morphological features was revealed: plant height – 43.0…71.7 cm; height of attachment of the lower bean - 12.3 ... 35.5 cm; the number of lateral branches of the first order - 2.0 ... 3.3 pieces; total number of beans per plant – 31.3…221.0 pcs.; the number of grained beans - 31.3 ... 211.0 pieces; the number of seeds from one plant - 30.0 ... 287.7 pieces; weight of seeds from one plant - 6.4 ... 41.9 g. K-1577 was distinguished by a very low weight of 1000 seeds.