Differential responses of Kabuli and Desi chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) to low water provision and their mineral profiling

Legume grains are of great importance for agriculture and the environment due to their ability to symbiotically fix atmospheric nitrogen and provide protein, minerals, vitamins, and other bioactive nutrients (Geraldo et al., 2022). Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is one of the most consumed legumes worldwide and it has gained even more importance in recent decades. Production levels have increased, their incorporation as intercrops has been promoted, and they have been used in the formulation of novel food products (Saget et al., 2020). Nonetheless, the exploitation of traditional chickpea varieties, such as the Desi type (black coloured chickpea), has been overlooked, and the recovery of under-exploited traditional varieties could contribute to fostering biodiversity, and promoting environmental sustainability and diversifying diets. However, current knowledge on the nutritional profile of commercial and traditional chickpea varieties and their resilience degree to environmental stresses, such as water scarcity, is limited, thus being the focus of this work.