Quantitative assessment of gene expression pattern of beta galactosidase and beta glucosidase under cold stress condition in chickpea

In the process of acclimation, plants show tolerance to low temperature inception by gene activity and cell metabolisms regulation. In this study quantification of Beta galactosidase and Beta glucosidase as genes involved in responses to temperature stresses alongside electrolyte leakage as a cell membrane damage indicator were evaluated in several intervals under cold and freezing stresses in Kabuli and Desi types of chickpea plants. Results indicated differences in the pattern of genes expression in both genotypes. Reduced expression of both studied genes in Jam genotype and unstable changes of genes in 4322 genotype at acclimation temperature indicated that response pattern of these two genes to this condition is down regulation that coincided with less membrane damage of jam genotype. Transfer of acclimated seedlings to freezing temperatures was accompanied by strong increases in electrolyte leakage index in 4322 and no changes in Jam. These alterations showed the relationship between the expression of these genes with responses of Jam genotype to cold stress and lack of acclimation mechanisms in 432. Generally this study showed that more down regulation of Beta galactosidase and Beta glucosidase genes which was parallel with more stable expression of these genes and less membrane damage, in Jam genotype than 4322 in response to short cold acclimation, could be regarded as one of the mechanisms involving in cold tolerance.