Effect of salicylic acid on growth and metabolism of chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) under drought stress

Four chickpea genotypes (Tyson, ICC 4958, JG 315 and DCP 92-3) were treated with 1.0 mM and 1.5 mM salicylic acid (SA) and subjected to pre- and post flowering drought stress to analyse its influence on nitrate reductase (NR) activity, relative water content (RWC), proline and antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase). Leaf RWC significantly reduced during stress at both the growth stages and ranged between 71.67–74.43% (unstressed) and 67.96–71.67% (stressed), whereas in 1.5 mM SA treated plants leaf RWC increased comparable to the control (unstressed plant). NR activity significantly reduced under stress at the post anthesis stage of growth but was maintained higher in 1.5 mM SA treated plants in all the four genotypes studied. On the other hand, activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX) were upregulated by drought stress and interestingly further enhanced by 1.5 mM SA treatment. The response of SA (1.5 mM) was relatively more in ICC 4958 and Tyson cultivars of chickpea. Hence, results signify the role of SA in protecting metabolic activity along with regulating the drought response of plants.