Proline metabolism in sorghum and chickpea cultivars during water stress

Drought tolerant and susceptible cultivars of both sorghum and chickpea were evaluated for proline accumulation, Pyrroline 5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) activity and soluble proteins in relation to imposed water stress. The result in the present study revealed that an increase of proline content from 14.58 to 70.75 mol g⁻¹ fr.wt in sorghum and 11.74 to 131.30 mol g⁻¹ fr.wt in chickpea with concomitant increase in P5CS activity and soluble proteins. The significant differences were recorded in free proline content of drought tolerant and susceptible genotypes of both sorghum and chickpea that could be attributed to increased P5CS activity and the loss of feedback inhibition of P5CS by proline during moisture stress.