Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake P.O., Bangalore 560 089
Total biomass was maximum in sprayed and irrigated plants. At the flowering stage, about 43% decrease in biomass was observed in the completely stressed plants as compared to control. In the completely stressed plants, the decrease in stem and leaf dry weight varied from 18 to 36 % and 20 to 35 % respectively at different growth stages. The RWC in sprayed and stressed plants decreased at different growth stages. Yield reduction in sprayed and stressed plants was 7.5%, 19% and 16.5% and in plants where no spray was given it was 39.0%, 41.2% and 47.4% when stress was imposed at vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages respectively as compared to control plants. The reduction in yield was attributed to reduction in fruit number and size.
