Comparative analysis of chickpea genotypes under drought stress conditions: The role of seed protein content in drought adaptation

Abstract

In this study, we selected two chickpea genotypes with distinct differences in seed protein content (SPC): ICC8397 (High Protein Content, HPC) and FG212 (Low Protein Content, LPC). These genotypes were subjected to terminal drought stress conditions and compared with ICC4948, a drought-tolerant variety, and ICC1882, a drought-sensitive variety. Our comparative analysis revealed that the LPC genotype, FG212, exhibited phenotypic and physiological traits similar to the drought-tolerant genotype ICC4948. In contrast, the HPC genotype, ICC8397, displayed traits more akin to the drought-sensitive genotype ICC1882. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that genotypes with lower protein content may adapt to drought stress by utilizing key amino acids, thereby reducing protein synthesis as a strategy to conserve resources during water deficit conditions.