Significance of leaf rolling in rice during water stress

Rolled leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.) transpired 41 per cent less water than did the unrolled ones. Preventing leaves from natural rolling during water stress led to reduced plant height, decreased dry matter accumulation, lowered leaf water status and impaired tissue viability. On the other hand stress-induced leaf rolling slowed down the fall of water status ofleaves resulting in relatively better plant performance i.e., panicle growth and its exersion enhanced by 7%, heading period shortened by 3 days, grain ripening increased and spikelet sterility decreased by 8 per cent each. The findings suggest that the leaf rolling is an adaptive response to water deficit which helps in maintaining favourable water balance within plant tissues with resultant benefit to plants under conditions of water scarcity and depleting soil moisture.