Abstract

Water deficit stress is one of the important factors limiting chickpea production in arid and semi-arid regions of West Asia and North Africa. When water deficit stress is imposed, different molecular and biochemical responses take place. This study was carried out to investigate proline accumulation and protein profiles of leaves in three chickpea cultivars under normal watering (I₁: irrigation based on 70 mm evaporation from class A pan), progressive water deficit (I₂ and I₃: 70…90…110…130 and 70…100…130 mm evaporation, respectively) and severe water stress (I₄: 130 mm evaporation). The experiment was split-plot, based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. By increasing irrigation intervals, leaf proline content increased. Probable stress responsive proteins in relation to imposed water deficit stress was carried out by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) method. Water deficit stress increased concentration of soluble proteins in the leaves up to 43% in comparison with normal watering treatment (I₁: 70…70), but did not significantly affect electrophoretic pattern of protein profiles. It seems that chickpea can be adapted to progressive water deficit stress conditions.

Keywords: Chickpea, proline, protein profiles, water stress.