Genome-wide identification, structure analysis and expression profiling of phospholipases D under hormone and abiotic stress treatment in chickpea (Cicer arietinum).

Phospholipases D (PLDs) are phospholipid hydrolyzing enzymes and crucial components of lipid signaling in plants. PLDs are implicated in stress responses in different plants however, characterization of PLDs in chickpea is missing. Here, we identify 13 PLD genes in the chickpea genome. PLD family could be divided into α, β, δ, ε and ζ isoforms based on sequence and structure. Protein remodeling described that chickpea PLDs are composed of defined arrangements of α-helix, β-sheets and short loops. Phylogenetic analysis suggested evolutionary conservation of chickpea PLD family with dicots. In-planta subcellular localization showed the plasma membrane localization of chickpea PLDs. All PLD promoters had hormone and stress related cis-regulatory elements, which suggested overlapping function of PLDs in hormone and abiotic stress signaling. The qRT-PCR expression analysis revealed that most PLD genes are differentially expressed in multiple abiotic stresses (drought, salt and cold stress). Moreover, several PLD genes had overlapping expression in abiotic stress and ABA and JA treatment. These observations indicate the involvement of PLD gene family in cross-talk of phytohormone and abiotic stress signaling in chickpea. Thus, present study opens new avenues of utilizing PLD related information for understanding hormone-regulated abiotic stress signaling in legume crops.