1Department of Biotechnology, S.V.P. University of Agricultural and Technology, Meerut-250 110, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Amity University, Noida-201 313, Uttar Pradesh, India
3Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
5Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, India
6Centre of Food Technology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding Author: Rajendra Kumar, Department of Biotechnology, S.V.P. University of Agricultural and Technology, Meerut-250 110, Uttar Pradesh, India, Email: rajendrak64@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 20 July, 2020.
Experiments were conducted to evaluate response of two genetically different drought tolerant varieties of Cicer arietinum L. namely PUSA 1103, Desi variety and PUSA 1105, Kabuli variety to the basal applications of nickel chloride doses viz; 0, 0.62, 3.12, 12.5, 62.5 and 125 μg g−1. Significant increase in the growth was observed at 0.62 and 3.12 μg g−1 nickel chloride doses. Addition of nickel dose above this level reduced the leaf area, plant growth, root length and yield of the plants. Fruiting stage showed more severe toxicity symptoms in comparison to the vegetative stages. Protein contents in seeds and chlorophyll contents along with nitrate reductase activity increased significantly in the leaves at the lower nickel doses. Peroxidase and superoxide-dismutase activities increased in a concomitant manner with increasing nickel concentrations. Increased concentrations of the soil applied nickel demonstrated an increase in the content of nickel higher in shoots also followed by roots. Accumulation of nickel and grain yield was higher in Desi chickpea variety PUSA 1103, indicating for its potential utilization in crop improvement strategies to breed new chickpea genotypes for nickel and drought resistance.
Cicer arietinum L, Enzyme activity, Metal accumulation, Nickel
