Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

Four chickpea genotypes differing in sensitivity to high temperature (HT) stress were analysed for the role of sugars and proline accumulation at reproductive stage. Significant increase in membrane injury index, reducing sugars and proline content and decrease in non reducing sugars and total sugars under HT stress was observed in all the chickpea genotypes. Under HT stress, the tolerant Pusa 1103 and BGD 72 genotypes showed significantly greater accumulation of reducing sugars and proline along with lower membrane injury index (higher membrane stability). The percent reduction in total sugars and non reducing sugars was less in Pusa 1103 and BGD 72 compared to the susceptible genotypes viz. Pusa 256 and Pusa 261. There was less reduction in yield under temperature stress in both tolerant genotypes, which may possibly be due to the higher accumulation of proline and reducing sugars. Thus, it was concluded that the higher osmolyte accumulation and lower membrane injury could be one of the reason for the high temperature tolerance of Pusa 1103 and BGD 72.