1Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi -221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi -221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
*E-mail: anujkumarsinghbhu1@gmail.com
Online published on 6 January, 2014.
Twenty pigeonpea genotypes were screened for terminal moisture deficit at early growth stages to identify suitable physiological parameters. Seeds were sown in plastic bags (30cm×15cm) containing 2.5 kg soil. Moisture stress was imposed after 24 days of sowing. The physiological parameters viz., relative water content (RWC), cell membrane injury (CMI) due to thermal and osmotic stresses and chlorophyll stability index (CSI) were determined using first fully mature leaflets from top of the plants grown in net house. These parameters were correlated with their yield and yield attributes grown in field under rainfed conditions. Genotypes with higher RWC, lower CMI and high CSI during moisture deficit period exhibited higher pods plant−1, seeds pod−1 and grain yield plant−1. These physiological traits may be utilized for development of high yielding drought tolerant varieties and/or development of CMS based drought tolerant hybrids.
CMI, CSI, RWC, correlation, moisture stress tolerance
