Biochemical And Molecular Defence Mechanism In Pigeon Pea Genotypes Against Salinity Stress

Abstract

Salinity being a critical factor to sustainable pigeon pea production addresses limitations to meet the demands of resource-poor people where it is grown. Biochemical studies-antioxidant potential (AO), lipid peroxidation (LP) and total phenolic contents (TPC) were carried out in root and shoot tissues of screened 6 genotypes. Based on morphological and biochemical expressions, ICP7 and ICP1071 were found to be most salt-tolerant and salt-susceptible pigeon pea genotypes, respectively. Partial CDS for pigeon pea stress-responsive genes viz., hybrid proline-rich protein (CcHyPRP,218 bp), cold, drought salt regulatory protein (CcCDR,207 bp) and cyclophilin protein (CcCYP,323 bp) conferring abiotic tolerance were cloned in to E. coli DH5α from ICP7 genotype. The semi-quantitative (RT-PCR) expression analysis of these isolated genes were conducted in root and shoot tissues of contrasting pigeon pea genotype and found to be expressed in both root and shoot tissues. These findings shall go a long way not only in understanding the important molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying the salinity tolerance of the pigeon but also can be utilized in providing important leads to the breeders to evolve improved varieties of pigeon pea with higher salinity tolerance levels.