Legume Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 221-231 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/lgg 225 4.3 Breeding strategies for drought tolerance Conventional breeding approaches for drought tolerance in chickpeas include the selection of genotypes with desirable traits such as deep root systems and high root biomass, which are beneficial for managing terminal drought stress (Asati et al., 2022). Field trials in various environments have been used to evaluate the performance of different genotypes under drought conditions, identifying those with superior drought tolerance (Arif et al., 2021). Integrating genomic and phenotypic data has become a cornerstone of modern breeding strategies. The use of multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) populations and high-resolution mapping has allowed for the precise identification of drought tolerance traits (Thudi et al., 2023). Combining phenotypic data with genomic information enables the selection of genotypes with the best combination of traits for drought tolerance (Tiwari et al., 2023). 4.4 Field trials and validation studies Several case studies have demonstrated the success of breeding programs in developing drought-tolerant chickpea varieties. For example, the genotype ICC 4958 has shown high chlorophyll content and enzyme activities under drought stress, making it a promising candidate for drought tolerance (Tiwari et al., 2023). Additionally, genotypes such as CH55/09 have been identified as highly productive under stress conditions through field trials (Arif et al., 2021). Future research aims to further enhance drought tolerance in chickpeas by exploring new genetic resources and employing advanced biotechnological approaches. The ongoing development of transgenic and genome-edited chickpea varieties holds promise for achieving higher levels of drought tolerance. Continued efforts in field trials and validation studies will be crucial for the successful deployment of these advanced breeding strategies (Figure 2) (Karalija et al., 2022; Sachdeva et al., 2022). Figure 2 Chickpea tolerance of drought and heat and alleviation strategies (Adopted from Karalija et al., 2022) 5 Emerging Technologies and Future Directions 5.1 High-throughput phenotyping and genotyping High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) has revolutionized the way we assess plant traits, enabling precise and rapid screening of large populations. This technology employs sophisticated non-invasive imaging, spectroscopy, and robotics to collect high-quality phenotypic data, which is crucial for understanding plant responses to various stresses and improving crop resilience (Mir et al., 2019). For instance, HTP systems have been used to evaluate vegetative drought tolerance in chickpea, providing insights into growth, physiological traits, and recovery under
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