TRANSCRIPTOME DATA OF CHICKPEA PODS UPON HELICOVERPA INFESTATION

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is a globally important crop, however, its production is highly affected by infestation by podborer (Helicoverpa armigera) resulting to massive yield losses. H. armigera tends to feed on its leaves, flowers as well as pods resulting to around 80% of total crop loss. Most of cultivated genotypes of chickpea are susceptible to pod borer. Although, a, few tolerant genotypes have also been reported but the molecular mechanism underlying this tolerance is not clear. We employed Illumina sequencing of pod wall in a tolerant as well as susceptible variety of chickpea to get a clear picture of alteration in transcriptome profile occurring due to chickpea-Helicoverpa interaction. Our attempt was to identify defensive genes that might have probable roles in conferring resistance against this pest.