Study of gene expression pattern of Cu/znSOD and SOD enzyme activity under drought treatment in tolerant and sensitive lines of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is mainly cultivated in arid and semi-arid agricultural systems. Drought stress is a major factor delimiting maximum yield. This research evaluated the effects of drought stress treatments on expression of Cu/znSOD as a gene involving in drought tolerance by Real time PCR technique. To find the probable relationship between the molecular and physiological effects of treatments, total soluble leaf protein and enzyme activity of SOD (EC: 1.15.1.1) were measured. Drought stress was applied by 30% of field capacity in flowering stage. Sampling was arranged on three times; pre stress, 48 hours after stress and 24 hours after recovery period. This study conducted as a factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications. Real time PCR data analysis indicated that the expression of Cu/znSOD between the two genotypes, candidate for tolerance (MCC696) and sensitive genotype (MCC759) was not significantly different from control condition. But the gene expression of Cu/znSOD in international genotype (MCC877) was more than other two genotypes in control condition. Consistent with some previous research results, gene expression levels of Cu/znSOD was reduced in two days after drought time than control, and increased in recovery stage compared to control plants. The measurement of total soluble leaf proteins and SOD enzyme activity under drought condition treatments revealed no significant difference compared to control conditions.

Keywords

• chickpea
• drought stress
• enzyme superoxide dismutase
• the gene cu/znsod