Biochemical, physiological changes and expression of some drought tolerance genes in lentil (Lens culinaris)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Agricultural biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat modares university, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Drought stress is a major limiting factor for crop production in arid and semi-arid regions. Given the importance of lentil (Lens culinaris) and its rainfed cultivation in Iran, this study aimed to investigate the response of two sensitive and tolerant lentil genotypes to drought stress at different levels (control, moderate stress, and severe stress corresponding to 90%, 60%, and 30% of field capacity). Morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits, as well as the relative expression of key genes involved in drought tolerance pathways, including Beta Amylase, DREB1C, ABAWDS, HCF136, and MIMP, were evaluated using qRT-PCR. Results showed that increasing drought stress intensity led to significant reductions in traits such as plant height, shoot and root fresh and dry weight, relative leaf water content, leaf area index, chlorophyll, and total leaf protein. Conversely, traits like leaf hair density, electrolyte leakage, accumulation of proline and carbohydrates, and the concentrations of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide increased. Gene expression analysis in the tolerant genotype revealed a significant increase in the expression of ABAWDS and HCF136 genes and a decrease in the expression of Beta Amylase, DREB1C, and MIMP genes under increasing stress. These findings highlight the role of these traits and genes in the mechanism of drought tolerance in lentil and can be utilized in breeding programs to develop drought-tolerant varieties.

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Main Subjects

Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 29 January 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 04 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 03 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 29 January 2026

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