Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of the chitinase gene family in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for fungal stress resistance. 2025

Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan. samrairum2@gmail.com.

Chitinases, enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing chitin, a significant component of fungal cell walls, play a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms, growth, symbiotic relationships, and stress resistance. In this study, we identified 27 chitinase genes in chickpeas (CaChi) and classified them into five classes based on phylogenetic analysis. Overall, chitinase genes are clustered on eight chromosomes. Among these chromosomes (Chr), Chr-2 displayed the maximum number of genes. Meanwhile, promoter analysis revealed that cis-elements are involved in responses to phytohormones, biotic stress, plant growth, and development. Tissue-based expression analysis indicated that CaChi genes are predominantly expressed in the seedling and floral parts. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that CaChi genes play diverse roles in plant-environment interactions. Notably, several CaChi members were strongly induced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. and fourteen genes (CaChi20, CaChi25, CaChi11, CaChi3, CaChi16, CaChi14, CaChi1, CaChi4, CaChi5, CaChi8, CaChi9, CaChi21, CaChi18, CaChi13) exhibited elevated expression levels after post-inoculation, depicting a significant function of Chi genes in chickpea resistance to Fusarium wilt. These findings enhance understanding of the chitinase family in chickpea crops and clarify the functions of chickpea chitinase in response to fungal stress.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
January 2016, Frontiers in plant science,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
February 2024, Protoplasma,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
December 2023, Gene,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
March 2022, 3 Biotech,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
January 2024, Functional plant biology : FPB,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
December 2025, Biochemical genetics,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
January 2017, PloS one,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
June 2022, Scientific reports,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
April 2012, Molecular biology reports,
Samra Irum, and Mustafa Cilkiz, and Noorah Al-Kubaisi, and Mohamed S Elshikh, and Rashid Iqbal
January 2009, Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB,
Copied contents to your clipboard!