Induction of Chitinase in Resistant and Susceptible Varieties of Chickpea (Cicerarietinum L.) following Infection with Ascochyta rabiei

Chickpea genome, as revealed by chitinase specific probe, was found to possess 5 copies of chitinase gene. Chitinase activity assayed in Ascochyta resistant (G40), partially resistant (Pusa 261) and susceptible (Pusa 209) varieties of chickpea following infection with Ascochyta rabiei revealed significant induction in the levels of the enzyme in all the three varieties. However, G40 exhibited 3 times higher chitinase activity in comparison to Pusa 209. Chitinase specific mRNA showed a parallel increase upon infection. The results suggest that regulation of chitinase activity upon infection is at the transcriptional level.