Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes
Abstract Chickpea, a vital legume crop, is highly susceptible to cold stress, especially during its reproductive phase, resulting in significant flower and pod abortions and reduced seed yield. Our previous study demonstrated that cold acclimation is effective in enhancing cold tolerance but benefit...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| author | Deeksha Padhiar Sarbjeet Kaur Anju Rani Uday Chand Jha P. V. Vara Prasad Kamal Dev Sharma Sanjeev Kumar Swarup Kumar Parida Kadambot H. M. Siddique Harsh Nayyar |
| author_facet | Deeksha Padhiar Sarbjeet Kaur Anju Rani Uday Chand Jha P. V. Vara Prasad Kamal Dev Sharma Sanjeev Kumar Swarup Kumar Parida Kadambot H. M. Siddique Harsh Nayyar |
| author_sort | Deeksha Padhiar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Chickpea, a vital legume crop, is highly susceptible to cold stress, especially during its reproductive phase, resulting in significant flower and pod abortions and reduced seed yield. Our previous study demonstrated that cold acclimation is effective in enhancing cold tolerance but benefits only cold-tolerant (CT) genotypes, while cold-sensitive (CS) genotypes remain unaffected. In this extended study aimed at probing the detailed mechanisms of this differential response, we further examined the expression profiles of enzymes involved in the synthesis and breakdown of osmolytes (pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase, proline dehydrogenase (PDH), betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase) and sugars (sucrose synthase, acid invertase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, and trehalase activity), along with the expression of various antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) in both CT and CS genotypes. Seeds of two contrasting chickpea genotypes, cold-tolerant ICC 17258 and cold-sensitive ICC 15567, were planted in pots during the first week of November in an outdoor field environment. After 40 days, the plants were transferred to walk-in growth chambers for cold acclimation at specific temperatures. Initially, the plants were exposed the plants to 25/18℃ (pre-acclimation stage; PAS) for 2 days, followed by a 21-day cold acclimation period with progressively decreasing temperatures over seven days for each cold acclimation stage (CAS): CAS1 (21/13℃), CAS2 (18/10℃), and CAS3 (15/8℃). Subsequently, the plants were subjected to cold stress at 13/7℃ for 15 days and then exposed to 30/23℃ (12 h day/night) until maturity. Our findings demonstrated that the expression of various enzymes involved in the synthesis of osmolytes and sugars in leaves, anthers, and ovules was significantly upregulated during the cold acclimation process in the CT chickpea genotypes but not in the CS genotypes. This enhanced metabolic activity, coupled with elevated levels of enzymatic antioxidants during the acclimation process, contributed to improved leaf water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and ultimately, superior reproductive performance (pollen germination, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, and ovule viability) under cold stress conditions compared to CS genotypes. The enhanced cold tolerance observed in the CT genotypes is likely attributable to their genetic predisposition and efficient stress defense mechanisms facilitated by the upregulated expression of cold-responsive enzymes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fee41a1d7d3f4b4d8c9a5a77c28598d7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fee41a1d7d3f4b4d8c9a5a77c28598d72025-08-20T02:31:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-03211-4Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypesDeeksha Padhiar0Sarbjeet Kaur1Anju Rani2Uday Chand Jha3P. V. Vara Prasad4Kamal Dev Sharma5Sanjeev Kumar6Swarup Kumar Parida7Kadambot H. M. Siddique8Harsh Nayyar9Department of Botany, Panjab UniversityDepartment of Botany, Panjab UniversityDepartment of Botany, Panjab UniversityCrop Improvement Division, Indian Institute of Pulses ResearchDepartment of Agronomy, Kansas State UniversityDepartment of Agriculture Biotechnology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Plant Sciences, Central University of PunjabNational Institute of Plant Genome ResearchThe UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western AustraliaDepartment of Botany, Panjab UniversityAbstract Chickpea, a vital legume crop, is highly susceptible to cold stress, especially during its reproductive phase, resulting in significant flower and pod abortions and reduced seed yield. Our previous study demonstrated that cold acclimation is effective in enhancing cold tolerance but benefits only cold-tolerant (CT) genotypes, while cold-sensitive (CS) genotypes remain unaffected. In this extended study aimed at probing the detailed mechanisms of this differential response, we further examined the expression profiles of enzymes involved in the synthesis and breakdown of osmolytes (pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase, proline dehydrogenase (PDH), betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase) and sugars (sucrose synthase, acid invertase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, and trehalase activity), along with the expression of various antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) in both CT and CS genotypes. Seeds of two contrasting chickpea genotypes, cold-tolerant ICC 17258 and cold-sensitive ICC 15567, were planted in pots during the first week of November in an outdoor field environment. After 40 days, the plants were transferred to walk-in growth chambers for cold acclimation at specific temperatures. Initially, the plants were exposed the plants to 25/18℃ (pre-acclimation stage; PAS) for 2 days, followed by a 21-day cold acclimation period with progressively decreasing temperatures over seven days for each cold acclimation stage (CAS): CAS1 (21/13℃), CAS2 (18/10℃), and CAS3 (15/8℃). Subsequently, the plants were subjected to cold stress at 13/7℃ for 15 days and then exposed to 30/23℃ (12 h day/night) until maturity. Our findings demonstrated that the expression of various enzymes involved in the synthesis of osmolytes and sugars in leaves, anthers, and ovules was significantly upregulated during the cold acclimation process in the CT chickpea genotypes but not in the CS genotypes. This enhanced metabolic activity, coupled with elevated levels of enzymatic antioxidants during the acclimation process, contributed to improved leaf water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and ultimately, superior reproductive performance (pollen germination, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, and ovule viability) under cold stress conditions compared to CS genotypes. The enhanced cold tolerance observed in the CT genotypes is likely attributable to their genetic predisposition and efficient stress defense mechanisms facilitated by the upregulated expression of cold-responsive enzymes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03211-4ChickpeaChilling; stressProlineSugar dynamicsOsmolytesAntioxidant metabolism |
| spellingShingle | Deeksha Padhiar Sarbjeet Kaur Anju Rani Uday Chand Jha P. V. Vara Prasad Kamal Dev Sharma Sanjeev Kumar Swarup Kumar Parida Kadambot H. M. Siddique Harsh Nayyar Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes Scientific Reports Chickpea Chilling; stress Proline Sugar dynamics Osmolytes Antioxidant metabolism |
| title | Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes |
| title_full | Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes |
| title_short | Deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes |
| title_sort | deciphering the dynamics of enzymes associated with the synthesis of cryoprotectants during cold acclimation in contrasting chickpea genotypes |
| topic | Chickpea Chilling; stress Proline Sugar dynamics Osmolytes Antioxidant metabolism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03211-4 |
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