Biochemical Response on Three Growth Phases of Chickpea under Graduated Salt Stress

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is sensitive to salt sress, that affects its yield and there is need to identify the tolerant genotypes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of NaCl salt stress on chickpea genotypes with specific biochemical attributes contributing to their adaptability to salt stress. Ten chickpea genotypes both desi (Annigeri 1, BGD103, NBeG47, JG11, GBM2, JAKI9218, ICC1431, ICC5003, ICCV96029) and kabuli (MNK 1) were evaluated for salinity tolerance. To determine the most tolerant genotype to salinity stress, an experiment was done at College of Agriculture, Vijayapur during 2019 as factorial form under completely block design (CRD) with three replications and 3 treatments, control and 2 NaCl salinity levels (3dS/m and 6dS/m) in 10 chickpea cultivars at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. Salinity is a serious abiotic stress, causing oxidative stress. Various biochemical parameters in chickpea genotypes were considered under varied NaCl concentrations. The results revealed that proline was significantly higher in JG 11 (33.42 mg g-1fr. wt.) at 6 dS.m-1 of salt as compared to other genotypes, because of high concentration of proline content enable JG11 to maintain low water potentials and tolerance to salt stress. Salt stress reduces the total chlorophyll content of leaves in salt susceptible plants and increases it in salt tolerant plants. The chlorophyll content decreased in all genotypes during the stress. Maximum decrease in chlorophyll content was observed with ICCV96029 and NBeG 47 among ten genotypes. Among biochemical parameters, the proline concentration was increased by high salinity, while total chlorophyll concentration was decreased in all tested genotypes. Hence proline and total chlorophyll content were more consistent with salt tolerance responses of the genotypes.