Evaluation of Multiple Salinity Tolerance Indices for Screening and Comparative Biochemical and Molecular Analysis of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Genotypes

Jha, S and Singh, J and Chouhan, C and Singh, O and Srivastava, R K (2021) Evaluation of Multiple Salinity Tolerance Indices for Screening and Comparative Biochemical and Molecular Analysis of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Genotypes. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (TSI). ISSN 0721-7595

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Abstract

Salinity is a major constraint for plant growth, development and yield worldwide. Evaluation of a large number of germplasms in salt-stressed environments may help identify superior salt-tolerant genotypes. The present study dissects the genetic diversity of 33 pearl millet genotypes (landraces and inbred lines) for salinity tolerance through in vitro screening at the seedling stage. Our results revealed a significant reduction in total biomass and shoot growth of the salt-sensitive genotypes upon exposure to 150 mM NaCl, in contrast to the tolerant genotypes showing better growth characteristics. A significant differential effect of salt treatment on morphological traits was observed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), confirming substantial genetic diversity among all genotypes for salt tolerance. The genotypes were clustered into three groups based on multiple stress indices. The genotypes were also evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the key contributing traits for stress tolerance. Based on these results, a total of four contrasting genotypes were selected for further biochemical and molecular analysis. Physiological studies confirmed that salt tolerance might be due to the higher content of osmolytes and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Similarly, gene expression profiling of catalase (CAT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutathione reductase (GR), and nitrate reductase (NR) revealed a profound increase in NR and GDH transcript levels in the tolerant genotypes, suggesting their major role as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers under salinity. The overall findings of this study could be utilized further for candidate gene mining through “omics” approaches, aiming toward development of salinity resilient crop plants.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Global Research Program - Accelerated Crop Improvement
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Antioxidant enzymes, Gene expression profiling, Germplasm screening, Pearl millet, Salinity stress tolerance, Stress indices
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets > Pearl Millet Others > Germplasm
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	27 Aug 2021 09:24
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2021 09:24
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11885
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10424-0
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	The authors gratefully acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for the DSTSERB Young Scientist grant (SB/YS/LS-39/2014) to provide financial support for the research and project-fellowship to JS and CC. The authors also acknowledge the University Grants Commission, Government of India for UGC-BSR Start-up research grant (F.30-50/2014/ BSR); UGC-CAS program, and DST-FIST program in Department of Botany, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur (India) for providing basic infrastructural facilities, and CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals. We also acknowledge Directors, NBPGR & ICRISAT for providing the valuable germplasms of pearl millet for the study, and Dr. Charu Lata (Sr. Scientist, CSIR-NISCAIR, New Delhi) for helping in data analysis.
Links:	Google Scholar

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