The present invention relates to environmental stress responsive protein ferritin (CaFer1) of chickpea. The invention discloses identification, isolation and cloning of ECM-localized ferritin (CaFer1) of chickpea and its multifunctional role in nutrient uptake, storage and stress tolerance. Comparative proteomic analysis of the chickpea extra-cellular (ECM) was performed to identify novel components of dehydration stress signaling. In addition, the present invention relates a method for producing environmental stress tolerant transgenic plants over-expressing the said CaFer1 gene. The present invention further provides dehydration stress tolerant transgenic plants overexpressing dehydration-responsive extra cellular matrix (ECM) protein ferritin (CaFer1).
