Influence of preconditoning on water relations and pigment system during reproductive stage in winter sown chickpea.

Abstract

Chickpea is self –pollinated legume crop which was believed firstly originated in South-Eastern Turkey and parts of Syria. Chickpea is the second most important pulse crop in the world. In Northern India, chickpea is grown in winter season. Preconditioning the plant with mild drought stress may trigger the various signaling pathways which will prepare the plants to conquer lethal cold stress. In this study, PBG1, PBG5 and GPF2 variety are more sensitive to the chilling stress, which were preconditioned with mild drought stress and then exposed to lethal cold stress. To see the effect of preconditioning various cell responses were monitored by measuring ELI, Relative Water Content and chlorophyll content at different stages of chickpea. All genotypes generated a variable response. Overall, relative water content and chlorophyll content were significantly higher in preconditioned PBG1, GPF2 and PBG5, which are sensitive to chilling stress. The study showed increase tolerance capacity in preconditioned plant towards chilling temperature and improve tolerance against chickpea