European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECT OF SALINITY STRESS ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM)

Ratnum Kaul Wattal* and Shruti Kandwal

ABSTRACT

Chickpea is an extremely important crop plant. Climate change is causing water scarcity, increased salinity in soil and elevated carbon dioxide levels. These factors affect agriculture in a big way. The nutritional content of the crops is also getting threatened due to these alterations in the environment. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of increased concentration of salinity on germination of Cicer seeds and associated effects on the content of proline, total soluble protein, concentration of H2O2 and the antioxidant enzyme catalase in the desi variety of chickpea. The study clearly showed the negative impact of saline conditions on the germination of Cicer seeds. High salt concentrations while declining the percentage of germination also delayed the process of onset of seed germination. Further, the levels of H2O2 and the antioxidant enzyme catalase were found to decline with the increasing salt concentration. However, the study showed increased levels of total extractable proteins and proline.

Keywords: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), Germination, Salinity Stress, Proline, H2O2, Catalase.