Quantitative assessment of gene expression pattern of sucrose synthase under cold stress condition in chickpea

Low temperature is one of the factors that limits the growth and geographical distribution of crops. Plants response to low temperature by changing cell metabolisms which in turn are resulted from changes in gene expression pattern during the acclimation process. In this study quantification of Sucrose Synthase (Su Sy) gene expression, as an important enzyme in response to abiotic stresses and cell metabolisms, along with Electrolyte Leakage Index (ELI) as a membrane damage index were examined in two cultivars of chickpea plants for different time treatments in three temperature conditions 10, 23 and -10°C. Results indicated that there were significant differences in Su Sy expression between time treatments under 10°C condition. Also data showed that there was difference between two genotypes in gene expression and ELI after acclimation for 24 hours following exposure to -10°C. Increase in Su Sy expression under acclimation which most of the times was parallel with decrease in ELI, and also decrease in expression of foregoing gene under freezing temperature indicate the importance of Su Sy as an effective gene for cold acclimation. So, it may be extrapolated that there is a negative correlation between Su Sy transcription level and ELI. This study illustrate that these two genotypes (Jam and 4322) response differently to cold stress, and acclimation period can be considered as a key factor in plant responses, as well. Also in this work more stable response and less damage of Jam genotype than that of 4322 genotype was observed under cold stress and greenhouse condition.