Delving into the BURP Super family: A Comprehensive QTL-Assisted Study on RD22 genes and its Role in Salinity Stress Tolerance in Chickpea

DNA polymorphisms QTL analysis in crops is a valuable tool to study the genetic basis of complex traits in agricultural plants. Candidate gene for abiotic (salinity) stress was spotted in the QTL region spanning CaLG03 and CaLG06 in our previous study. In continuity to the same, we have picked up QTL-associated Cicer arietinum RD22 (CaRD22) gene which belongs to BURP-domain-containing group of proteins (BURPs) and studied its expression patterns in salinity-tolerant (ICCV10) and susceptible (DCP92-3) genotypes of chickpea. Earlier, few systematic categorizations of BURPs including RD22 gene were reported, but no QTL driven functional prediction w.r.t salinity stress is known so far. Here, a couple of in silico approaches were utilized followed by lab validation to speculate the features of RD22 BURP gene particularly Ca_23903 in Chickpea. A complete set of fifteen BURP genes located on chromosome 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and Scaffold 653 were studied. Motif analysis, gene structure study, phylogenetic analysis, cis-element analysis in promoter regions, and co-expression network analysis were performed in addition to the quantitative expression analysis. Expression profiling of RD22 gene and other interacting gene partners were performed in root and shoot tissues exposed to salt stress (200 mM). The findings predict the behavior of BURP genes specifically RD22 subtype during salinity conditions emphasizing their implications in associated physiological processes.