Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

  • Year: 2009
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue: 1

In vitro evaluation of relative tolerance of Eleucine coracana genotypes against water deficit stress

  • Author:
  • Shubha Rai1, A.K. Gaur2, S.K. Guru3, S. Agrawal1,, S. Arora2
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 82 to 87

1Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand).

2Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand).

3Department of Plant Physiology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand).

Abstract

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) is considered a drought-tolerant crop. However, within this species, there is considerable genotypic variation in tolerance to this environmental stress. In the present work, effect of mannitol -induced water deficit stress on seed germination, early seedling growth, proline, MDA and hydrogen peroxide content in ten finger millet genotypes were analyzed. The seedlings of PRM-6107, VL-283 and VL-328 recorded relatively better drought tolerance in terms of growth and oxidative damage. While, PES-400, VR-708, VL-149 and VL-146 showed susceptibility as per cent reduction in germination, shoot growth, root growth, MDA content and hydrogen peroxide level was relatively higher in comparison to tolerant group. Rest of the three genotypes viz. VL-315, PR-202 and PRM-9802 showed intermediary character in between these two groups.

Keywords

Eleusine coracana, finger millet, hydrogen peroxide, proline, ragi, water deficit stress