Chickpea's genetic signatures at cultural crossroads.

A new study sheds light on the origin, diversification, and spread of chickpeas throughout the Middle East, South Asia, Ethiopia, and the western Mediterranean. The study used genetic data from over 400 chickpea specimens collected in the 1920s and 1930s and developed two new models, popdisp and migadmi, to analyze the data. The results suggest that the spread of chickpea within each region occurred predominantly along trade routes, rather than through simple diffusion. The study also revealed the possible origin of the Ethiopian desi population and the kabuli type from a local desi chickpea population in Turkey.