In order to differentiate among susceptible and tolerant chickpea genotypes, different biochemical traits were investigated. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was performed in three replications. A combination of two factors i.e. genotype (cold tolerant and suseptible line) and temperature (4 and 20 ° C), were used in this experiment. Leaf samples were prepared 12 and 72 hours after stress. Based on the results obtained, H2O2 content was significantly higher in the susceptible genotype under both conditions. Sequencing results comparison showed that the proline dehydrogenase gene expression was increased in the susceptible line. In addition, expression of an isoform of proline 5 carboxylate synthetase reduced in this line. Cold stress caused a significant increase in catalase activitiy in the tolerant cultivar. Decreased expression of a homologue of ascorbate oxidase in susceptible line showed a positive role of this enzyme and regulation of ascorbate homeostasis in the tolerant cultivar. Decreased expression of ABA hydrolase in the tolerant cultivar, decreased expression of ABA receptor in the susceptible line, expression of different ABI5 isoforms in the tolerant cultivar under stress as compared to the susceptible line indicated differences in ABA transduction pathway in the susceptible and tolerant genotypes. The result of this study clearly explained the differences between the biochemical responses of tolerant and susceptible chickpea genotypes in response to the cold stress, which could be considered as an indirect screening method for identification of chickpea genotypes tolerant unde rcold stress conditions. Manuscript profile