Effect of Abiotic Stress on Chickpea: Physiological Perspective

Abstract

Despite a worldwide intensification of agriculture and tremendous progress towards increasing yields in major crops over the last decade, the goal to reduce the problems associated with abiotic and biotic stress due to unfavourable climate, plant diseases and pests, still remains unfulfilled. Increased plant productivity, therefore relies on a high chemical input and is achieved at the expense of detrimental effect on the environment. To survive both microbe and plants need to respond and adapt to such stresses by suitable changes at the physiological and molecular level. Abiotic stress tolerance can evoke in crops by the exploitation of worldwide abundant microbes preadapted to stresses. Root colonizing bacteria (Rhizobacteria) that exert beneficial effects on plant development via direct or indirect mechanisms have been defined as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Although significant control of plant pathogens or direct enhancement of plant development has been demonstrated by PGPR in the laboratory and greenhouse; results in the field have been less consistent. Because of these and other challenges in screening, formulation, and application, PGPR have yet to fulfill their promise and potential as commercial inoculants. Recent progress in our understanding of their diversity, colonization ability, mechanism of action, formulation, and application should facilitate their development as reliable components in the management of sustainable agricultural systems. The prospect of manipulating crop rhizosphere microbial populations by inoculation of beneficial bacteria to increase plant growth has shown considerable promise in laboratory and greenhouse studies, but responses have been variable in the field.

Keywords: abiotic, rhizobacteria, rhizobial species, chickpeaDespite a worldwide intensification of agriculture and tremendous progress towards increasing yields in major crops over the last decade, the goal to reduce the problems associated with abiotic and biotic stress due to unfavourable climate, plant diseases and pests, still remains unfulfilled. Increased plant productivity, therefore relies on a high chemical input and is achieved at the expense of detrimental effect on the environment. To survive both microbe and plants need to respond and adapt to such stresses by suitable changes at the physiological and molecular level. Abiotic stress tolerance can evoke in crops by the exploitation of worldwide abundant microbes preadapted to stresses. Root colonizing bacteria (Rhizobacteria) that exert beneficial effects on plant development via direct or indirect mechanisms have been defined as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Although significant control of plant pathogens or direct enhancement of plant development has been demonstrated by PGPR in the laboratory and greenhouse; results in the field have been less consistent. Because of these and other challenges in screening, formulation, and application, PGPR have yet to fulfill their promise and potential as commercial inoculants. Recent progress in our understanding of their diversity, colonization ability, mechanism of action, formulation, and application should facilitate their development as reliable components in the management of sustainable agricultural systems. The prospect of manipulating crop rhizosphere microbial populations by inoculation of beneficial bacteria to increase plant growth has shown considerable promise in laboratory and greenhouse studies, but responses have been variable in the field.

Keywords: abiotic, rhizobacteria, rhizobial species, chickpea

Cite this Article

Chauhan N, Gupta K, Chandra I. Effect of Abiotic Stress on Chickpea: Physiological Perspective. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences. 2016; 6(1): 14–18p.