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Proline improves copper tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

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Abstract

The present study suggests the involvement of proline in copper tolerance of four genotypes of Cicer arietinum (chickpea). Based on the data of tolerance index and lipid peroxidation, the order for copper tolerance was as follows: RSG 888 > CSG 144 > CSG 104 > RSG 44 in the selected genotypes. The basis of differential copper tolerance in chickpea genotypes was characterized by analyzing, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, ascorbated peroxidase and catalase), phytochelatins, copper uptake, and proline accumulation. Chickpea genotypes showed stimulated superoxide dismutase activity at all tested concentrations of copper, but H2O2 decomposing enzymes especially; ascorbate peroxidase did not increase with 25 and 50 μM copper treatments. Catalase activity, however, increased at lower copper concentrations but failed to stimulate at 50 μM copper. Such divergence in responses of these enzymes minimizes their importance in protecting chickpea against copper stress. The sensitive genotypes showed greater enhancement of phytochelatins than that of tolerant genotypes. Hence, the possibility of phytochelatins in improving copper tolerance in the test plant is also excluded. Interestingly, the order of proline accumulation in the chickpea genotypes (RSG 888 > CSG 144 > CSG 104 > RSG 44) was exactly similar to the order of copper tolerance. Based on hyperaccumulation of proline in tolerant genotype (RSG 44) and the reduction and improvement of lipid peroxidation and tolerance index, respectively, by proline pretreatment, we conclude that hyperaccumulation of proline improves the copper tolerance in chickpea.

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Abbreviations

APX:

ascorbate peroxidase

BSO:

l-buthionine-[S,R]-sulphoximine

CAT:

catalase

GSH:

reduced glutathione

GSSG:

oxidized glutathione

MDA:

malondialdehyde

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgment

We are thankful to Professor Aditya Shastri, Vice-Chancellor of the Banasthali University for necessary facilities. B.N.T. thanks Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, for financial support.

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Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali University, Banasthali, 304022, Rajasthan, India

    Vijeta Singh, Indu Bhatt, Anjali Aggarwal, Bhumi Nath Tripathi, Ashok Kumar Munjal & Vinay Sharma

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  1. Vijeta Singh
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  2. Indu Bhatt
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  3. Anjali Aggarwal
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  4. Bhumi Nath Tripathi
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  5. Ashok Kumar Munjal
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  6. Vinay Sharma
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Correspondence to Bhumi Nath Tripathi.

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Singh, V., Bhatt, I., Aggarwal, A. et al. Proline improves copper tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Protoplasma 245, 173–181 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-010-0178-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-010-0178-9

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