Ectopic expression of pigeonpea Orf147 gene imparts partial sterility in Cicer arietinum

•Orf147can be employed for the development of CMS-based inducible hybrids in chickpea.•Phenotypic analysis of the developmental stages of chickpea implied reduced pod formation in the transgenic events.•Partial sterility is confirmed through microscopic studies of pollen viability.•Cytotoxic orf147 was found to cause partial sterility in chickpea. Orf147, a cytotoxic peptide, has been found to cause cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in Cajanus cajanifolius (pigeonpea). In our study, Orf147 was introduced into self-pollinating Cicer arietinum (chickpea) using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for induction of CMS. The stable integration and expression of the transgene has been assessed through PCR and qRT-PCR analysis. In addition, phenotypic sterility analysis has been performed, considering developmental parameters like flower development, pod formation and flower drop. Transgene inheritance analysis demonstrates that out of the five PCR positive events in the T0 generation, two events have segregated according to the Mendelian segregation ratio (3:1) in the T2 generation. Further, pollen viability test using microscopic analysis confirms the induction of partial CMS in transgenic chickpea. The study holds significant value regarding the heterosis of self-pollinating legumes like chickpea. As a part of the prospect, exploring inducible promoters of species-specific or related legumes would be the next step to developing a two-line hybrid system.