Physiological and biochemical adaptation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under moisture stress

Abstract

Six chickpea genotypes i.e. tolerant (BGD1094, ILC 3279 and L555) and sensitive (GL29095, GL12003 and GNG2171) categorized on the basis of lysimetric screening for moisture stress conditions were evaluated for physiological and biochemical studies. Tolerant genotypes exhibited higher photosynthetic rate, Relative Water Content (RWC) and leg haemoglobin content in comparison to sensitive genotypes. Proline, total soluble sugars, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase activities increased among all the genotypes but tolerant ones showed higher upheaval and under moisture stress conditions (rainfed) in contrast to sensitive genotypes. Starch content reduced correspondingly under moisture stress with maximum decline (32.36%) observed in GL12003. The accumulation of osmolytes and higher antioxidative enzymatic activity in tolerant genotypes imparted tolerance to moisture stress in comparison to the sensitive ones.