Seeds of chickpea are nutritious and alleged to be a preferred source of protein next only to milk. Some of the biotic and abiotic factors reduce chickpea production worldwide. Plant roots are the first to perceive stress signals. The wild root free radical scavenging activity measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method was 28.06 ± 1.43% and 25.12 ± 0.95% in cultivated chickpea type. The root proteins were resolved on 7 cm IPG strip having a pH gradient 5-8 and subsequently separated on the basis of mass using SDS-PAGE in second dimension. A total of eight representative spots were subjected for identification by MALDI-TOF-MS. A protein-protein association network analysis using STRING software permitted to build an interactomic map of all detected proteins, characterised by 16 interactions. The findings may provide a better understanding of the biochemical mechanism of different root pathways and stress-responses in chickpea. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Information pertaining to stress resistance is essential from breeder's perspectives. Chickpea is prone to high yield losses due to recurring droughts. MALDI-TOF-MS coupled with MASCOT query search found significant correlations with abscisic acid responsive proteins associated to drought stress using comparative proteomics. This report will assist researchers a ready reference for executing further studies concerning chickpea root proteins. The findings may provide a better understanding of the biochemical mechanism of different root pathways and stress-responses in chickpea.
Keywords: abscisic acid; antioxidant; chickpea root proteins; phenolics.
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