Heat Shock Proteins of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] Cultivars with Differing Heat Tolerance at Seedling Establishment Stage

Abstract

The production of heat shock proteins was compared in sorghum and pearl millet genotypes differing in seedling establishment characteristics under heat stress. Two major heat shock proteins (hsps) of apparent mol. wt. 65 kD and 62 kD were seen in all the genotypes of sorghum tested when the incubation temperature of the 40 h seedlings was altered from 35 °C to 45 °C for 2 h. Under identical conditions, pearl millet genotypes showed more hsps and the apparent mol. wt. of these ranged from 30–70 kD. The hsp bands were more prominent in whole seedlings and roots as compared to plumules. Differences in the production of hsps were seen in sorghum and pearl millet genotypes with contrasting heat tolerance at seedling establishment stage but the significance of these needs to be studied further.

Heat shock proteins, sorghum, genotypic differences