Changes in nitrate, amino acid and sugar content during growth and differentiation of chickpea explants (Cicer arietmum L.)

A study was conducted with an objective to relate differentiation of chickpea explants grown in vitro to certain physiological and biochemical processes prior to differentiation and during rapid growth phase. Two distinct growth phases exist during differentiation i.e., an initial slow differentiation phase and rapid growth phase. Dry weight changes can be attributed to type and size of explants. Differentiating shoot tip recorded more nitrate content, total soluble protein content, lower free amino acid and total soluble sugars, leading to differentiation and significantly more growth as dry weight. Non-differentiating hypocotyl on the other hand was characterized by lower nitrate, and lower soluble protein content and accumulation of soluble sugars and free amino acids, thus leading to poor growth. Thus our study indicate that the process of differentiation is a conssequence of some biochemical and physiological changes induced by plant growth regulators.