A family of β-galactosidase cDNAs related to development of vegetative tissue in Cicer arietinum

The CanBGals gene expression along seedlings and adult plant could suggests different roles of their corresponding protein throughout the chickpea plant. The expression of CanBGal-5 is related to young and meristematic stages with high cell division rate, such as the meristematic hook, very young epicotyls, and apical internodes. By contrast, CanBGal-1 and -4 seem to be more strongly related to advanced stages of epicotyl growth, increasing their expression along epicotyl age, and also in basal non-elongating stem internodes. In adult plants, CanBGal-1 shows its highest expression levels in leaves, while CanBGal-4 seems to be better represented in adult roots. This is the first report about several members of the genomic family of β-galactosidases acting during development of vegetative organs.