Phospholipase C proteins are phospholipid hydrolysing enzymes and crucial components of abiotic stress triggered lipid signaling in plants. PLCs are implicated in plant reaction to drought, salinity, and cold stress responses, however, characterization of the PLC family in the legume crop chickpea is missing. Here, we identify and describe nine PLC encoding genes in the chickpea genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the chickpea PLC family has evolved through a common path in dicots. Subcellular localization of fluorescence tagged proteins confirmed cytoplasmic and plasma membrane bound forms of PLCs in chickpea. The promoters of all the PLC genes are comprised of several hormone response related, development and abiotic stress related cis-regulatory elements. Expression analysis in five developmental stages (germination, seedling, vegetative, reproductive and senescence) showed significant expression of multiple PLCs in germination, vegetative and reproductive stages, suggesting their diverse role in various developmental processes. qRT-PCR expression analysis of the entire PLC gene family under drought, salt and cold stresses revealed that most PLC genes are differentially expressed in multiple abiotic stresses. These observations indicate the involvement of PLC gene family in abiotic stress signaling and responses in important legume crop. The present study opens new avenues for utilizing PLC- related information in biotechnological programs for abiotic stress tolerance and legume crop improvement.

磷脂酶C蛋白是磷脂水解酶，是非生物胁迫触发植物脂质信号传导的关键组成部分。PLC与植物对干旱，盐分和冷胁迫的反应有关，但是，豆科植物鹰嘴豆中PLC家族的特征缺失。在这里，我们确定并描述了鹰嘴豆基因组中的9个PLC编码基因。系统发育分析表明，鹰嘴豆PLC家族已经在双子叶植物中通过共同的途径进化。荧光标记蛋白的亚细胞定位证实鹰嘴豆中PLC的细胞质和质膜结合形式。所有PLC基因的启动子均由几种激素反应相关，发育和非生物胁迫相关顺式组成。-调节元素。在五个发育阶段（发芽，幼苗，营养，生殖和衰老）的表达分析表明，多个PLC在发芽，营养和生殖阶段均显着表达，表明它们在各种发育过程中的不同作用。整个PLC基因家族在干旱，盐和寒冷胁迫下的qRT-PCR表达分析表明，大多数PLC基因在多种非生物胁迫中差异表达。这些观察表明PLC的参与重要豆科植物非生物胁迫信号和响应中的基因家族。本研究开辟了在生物技术计划中利用PLC相关信息来改善非生物胁迫耐受性和改善豆类作物的新途径。