Editing Cicer (section)

==Resistances of various ''Cicer'' perennials and potential for plant improvement==
''Cicer'' perennials harbor great resistances in particular environments in comparison to the resistances of other [[herbaceous]] species. Although some ''Cicer'' perennials are difficult to harvest, there have been studies to improve the [[germination]] of particular species. Various studies highlight the specific resistances and improvements in [[fitness (biology)|fitness]] of particular ''Cicer'' perennial species. For example, one way in which ''Cicer canariense'', a perennial species, was able to improve its fitness is by the help of scientific experimentation.

''[[Cicer canariense]]'', a perennial species, has a lowered field emergence due to a hard seed coats. However, various methods such as chemical [[Scarification (botany)|scarification]] with concentrated [[sulphuric acid]] as well as hot water treatment can be used to improve [[germination]]. In one particular study, physical dormancy was overcome most effectively by mechanical [[Scarification (botany)|scarification]] and sulphur immersion.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Guma | first1 = I. R. | last2 = Mederos | first2 = M. A. | last3 = Guerra | first3 = A. S. | last4 = Reyes-Betancort | first4 = J. A. | year = 2010 | title = Evaluation of methods to remove hardseededness in ''Cicer canariense'', a perennial wild relative of chickpea | journal = Seed Science and Technology | volume = 38 | issue = 1| pages = 209–213 | doi=10.15258/sst.2010.38.1.20}}</ref> More studies regarding crop development could introduce this species as a potential food source.

Another perennial species, ''[[Cicer anatolicum]]'', resists [[chickpea ascochyta blight]] superior to the cultivated chickpea. Access to this resistance is barred due to hybridization barriers. A detailed study on endogenous hormones showed that interspecific hybrid production could occur if hormone profiles between the cultivated [[chickpea]] and the perennial are synchronized.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lulsdorf | first1 = M. M. | last2 = Yuan | first2 = H. Y. | last3 = Slater | first3 = S. M. | last4 = Vandenberg | first4 = A. | last5 = Han | first5 = X. | last6 = Zaharia | first6 = L. I. | last7 = Abrams | first7 = S. R. | year = 2013 | title = Endogenous hormone profiles during early seed development of ''C. arietinum'' and ''C. anatolicum'' | journal = Plant Growth Regulation | volume = 71 | issue = 2| pages = 191–198 | doi=10.1007/s10725-013-9819-2| bibcode = 2013PGroR..71..191L | s2cid = 6692440 }}</ref> Further experimentation on hormone profiles could open up hybridization barriers between the modern chickpea and ''[[Cicer anatolicum]]''. Another barricade that could be overcome is the inability to cultivate specific ''Cicer'' perennials in different parts of the world.

Many ''Cicer'' perennials and annual plants grow in different environments. So far, none of the perennial ''Cicer'' species have been grown successfully in a tropical or subtropical setting in which annual ''Cicer'' species grow. If the pollen of perennial species can be preserved for use in the different parts of the world in which annual species grow, then crossability techniques can be performed more effectively. This difficulty in use of the perennial [[germplasm]] can be resolved by transshipping viable pollen across the ocean.<ref>Mallikarjuna, N., Coyne, C., Cho, S., Rynearson, S., Rajesh, P. N., Jadhav, D. R., & Muehlbauer, F. J. (2011). Cicer. ''In Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources'' (pp. 63-82). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.</ref> If this issue were to be resolved, more ''Cicer'' perennials could be planted in various portions of the world.

Another constraint that affects the ''Cicer'' species is the bollworm ''[[Helicoverpa armigera]]'', which is one of the biggest problems for their survival. Host plant resistance is an effective method to resolve these pests. A study found that perennials such as ''C. canariense'' and ''[[Cicer microphyllum|C. microphyllum]]'' have high resistance to ''H. armigera'' compared to ''[[Cicer judaicum|C. judaicum]]'', an annual plant.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sharma | first1 = H. C. | last2 = Bhagwat | first2 = M. P. | last3 = Pampapathy | first3 = G. | last4 = Sharma | first4 = J. P. | last5 = Ridsdill-Smith | first5 = T. J. | year = 2006 | title = Perennial wild relatives of chickpea as potential sources of resistance to ''Helicoverpa armigera'' | url = http://oar.icrisat.org/498/1/GeneticResourcesandCropEvolution_53_131%E2%80%93138_2006.pdf| journal = Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution | volume = 53 | issue = 1| pages = 131–138 | doi=10.1007/s10722-004-1951-4| bibcode = 2006GRCEv..53..131S | s2cid = 22863068 }}</ref> More experimentation on cross-breeding could give clues on the genetic origin of the proteins responsible for this resistance. Drought resistance is another opposition to overcome for many ''Cicer'' perennials.

About 90% of chickpea (''[[Cicer arietinum]]'') in the world is grown with very little rainfall and where drought is a significant constraint to growth. A study assessed the resistance of drought of many perennials compared to annuals. When tested, the perennial wild ''Cicer'' species recovered after wilting and drying out and also tolerated high temperatures. Of all the perennials tested crossbreeding with ''Cicer anatolicum'' should be tested because of its close genetic affinities to the annual species.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Toker | first1 = C. | last2 = Canci | first2 = H. | last3 = Yildirim | first3 = T. | year = 2007 | title = Evaluation of perennial wild ''Cicer'' species for drought resistance | journal = Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution | volume = 54 | issue = 8| pages = 1781–1786 | doi=10.1007/s10722-006-9197-y| bibcode = 2007GRCEv..54.1781T | s2cid = 21330897 }}</ref>

These resistances and improvements in the ''Cicer'' perennial genome can be a potential reservoir of knowledge for the exploration of the genes that contribute to the perennials' traits. Drought and pest resistance along with scientific improvements in crop development play a huge role in the evolution of many ''Cicer'' perennials. Further studies of genetic exchange and crossbreeding between ''Cicer'' perennials could potentially benefit the traits of contemporary food-bearing crops and provide extensive knowledge for innovation.