Biochemical performance and protein profile of sensitive and tolerant varieties of chickpea under salinity

Chickpea varieties (BG-256 and CSG-8962) were subjected to salt stress (50mM, 100mM and 150mM of NaCl) in a pot experiment. Untreated plants served as control. Plants were analyzed from 20 DAS up to 60 DAS at ten-day interval. Salt stress significantly reduced growth parameters like biomass, net assimilation rate, relative water content and biochemical parameters viz., total nitrogen and protein content of both the varieties. However, decrement was more pronounced in sensitive (BG-256) than in tolerant (CSG-8962) variety. Proline content increased with increase in salt exposure in both the varieties. SDS-PAGE of the protein reveal large amount of protein degradation in plants treated with high concentration of salt.