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Drought priming induces chilling tolerance and improves reproductive functioning in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

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Abstract

Key message

Priming alleviates membrane damage, chlorophyll degradation along with cryoprotectants accumulation during chilling stress that leads to improved reproductive functioning and increased seed yield.

Abstract

Chilling temperatures below 15 °C have severe implications on the reproductive growth and development of chickpea. The abnormal reproductive development and subsequent reproductive failure lead to substantial yield loss. We exposed five chickpea cultivars (PBG1, GPF2, PDG3, PDG4, and PBG5) to drought stress (Priming) during the vegetative stage and analyzed for chilling tolerance during the reproductive stage. These varieties were raised in the fields in two sets: one set of plants were subjected to drought stress at the vegetative stage for 30 days (priming) and the second set of plants were irrigated regularly (non-primed). The leaf samples were harvested at the flowering, podding, and seed filling stage and analyzed for membrane damage, water status, chlorophyll content, cellular respiration, and certain cryoprotective solutes. The reproductive development was analyzed by accessing pollen viability, in vivo and in vitro germination, pollen load, and in vivo pollen tube growth. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that priming improved membrane damage, chlorophyll b degradation, and accumulation of cryoprotectants in GPF2, PDG3, and PBG5 at the flowering stage (< 15 °C). Pearson's correlation analysis showed a negative correlation with the accumulation of proline and carbohydrates with flower, pod, and seed abortion. Only, PBG5 responded best to priming while PBG1 was worst. In PBG5, priming resulted in reduced membrane damage and lipid peroxidation, improved water content, reduced chlorophyll degradation, and enhanced cryoprotective solutes accumulation, which led to increased reproductive functioning and finally improved seed yield and harvest index. Lastly, the priming response is variable and cultivar-specific but overall improve plant tolerance.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Central University of Punjab for providing the necessary infrastructure and Punjab Agriculture University for providing chickpea seeds. Authors are thankful to the University Grant Commission (UGC) New Delhi for financial assistance, and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi for financial assistance in the form of Junior Research Fellowship.

Funding

This study was funded by University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, Central university of Punjab, Bathinda and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biosciences, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India

    Rashmi Saini, Arindam Adhikary, Rashpal Kumar & Sanjeev Kumar

  2. Department of Botany, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India

    Rangman Das & Sanjeev Kumar

  3. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, 141004, India

    Inderjit Singh

  4. Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    Harsh Nayyar

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  1. Rashmi Saini
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. RS has performed the experimental work, data analysis and written the manuscript. RD repeated the field experiment and observations, AA, RK have assisted in field trials, sampling, and biochemical analysis. IS provided authentic germplasm. SK has conceptualized, planned and finalized the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sanjeev Kumar.

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Communicated by Prakash Lakshmanan.

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Saini, R., Das, R., Adhikary, A. et al. Drought priming induces chilling tolerance and improves reproductive functioning in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Plant Cell Rep 41, 2005–2022 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-022-02905-7

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