MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL (SDS-PAGE) PROFILING OF CHICKPEA CULTIVARS TREATED WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION OF SALT (NaCl)

Abstract

The research was conducted at the University of Swat, delved into the impact of salt (NaCl) stress on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars including; Karak-1, KC-98, Lawaghar-2000, Sheenghar, Karak-2, Karak-3, Fakhar-e-Thal and Chattan obtained from Agricultural Research Station Ahmad Wala Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan with three local varieties; Bittal-2016, Noor-91 and Noor-2013. The study encompassed eight distinct traits evaluated under varying NaCl concentrations, including control, 50, 100, and 200 mM. The average mean of plant height was recorded as 26.75±8.410063cm, number of primary branches 75±1.493039, secondary branches 8.75±2.657536, days of flowering 112.33±1.45, number of flowerings 4.04±2.33, number of pods 1.76±5.66 and plant biomass 33.33±1.76. The obtained data was analyzed with statistical software PAST 4.08 version using Multi-statistical Analysing Tools (MSAT) for significance results. Principle component Analysis (PCA) scattered plot showed positive correlation in a bulk of variance at Component-I in Primary branches (Pr.Br.), secondary branches (S. Br), pods per plants (PPP), while Cluster- II (Number of flower (NOF),100 Seed weight (100 SW) and Cluster-III (Plant height (PH), Days of flowering (DOF) with very little contribution of some scattered genotypes. The first two axis represent 85% of variance in the correlation matrix, while the first 3 axis represent 94% of variance that signifies our results. Principal Component-1, having 75% of variance while PC-2 and 3 with 15% and 12% variance respectively. The SDS-PAGE, dendrogram shows the protein profile relates three distinct Clusters; Cluster- I (Chattan and Sheenghar) Cluster- II (Karak-3, Fakhar-e-Thal and KC-98) while Karak-2 made a separate outline. The tolerable genotypes showed 100% performance in Cluster-II. Noteworthy findings emerged, such as the significant increase in a 43 kDa protein in the salt-tolerant genotype Fakhar-e-Thal compared to Chattan. Furthermore, the investigation unveiled distinct protein profiles and clustering patterns among genotypes based on their origins and salt tolerance. This research underscores the relevance of comprehending salt stress adaptation in chickpea cultivation, particularly in regions prone to salinity stress. The study identified the accessions KC-89, Fakhar-e-Thal and Karak-3 potential against salinity up to 50mM NaCl concentration. These cultivars also found with a similar protein banding pattern and clustered in a same group by analyzing through a reliable biochemical technique, SDS-PAGE.