Deciphering the role of sugar transport genes in modulating seed protein content in Chickpea

This study examines the impact of genes unique to sugar metabolism in regulating seed protein content by comparing them across two genotypes, FG212, 20 % (low protein content, LPC) and ICC8397, 30 % (high protein content, HPC) of (Cicer arietinum L.). Genes specific to sugar transport, which promote glycolysis and energy-intensive activities like development and stress responses, are more highly expressed in FG212 despite its low protein content. On the other hand, ICC8397 supports its high protein content by prioritising nitrogen assimilation over carbohydrate metabolism and by expressing more genes linked to nitrogen absorption, such as glutamine synthetase and nitrate reductase. The analysis revealed 17 sugar transport-specific genes, predominantly belonging to the SWEET family, with enhanced expression in FG212, these genes prioritise stress tolerance and glucose metabolism above protein synthesis. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analysis revealed important biological processes such as hexose transport and carbohydrate metabolism, with genes related to energy balance and sugar distribution showing differential expression. While DNA repair proteins interacted with SWEET genes, suggesting their developmental significance, interaction studies showed that SWEET transporters and transcription factors such as MYB played important roles in stress. The findings of this research are useful in breeding new chickpea cultivars with enhanced SPC and higher nutritional values.