Effect of moisture stress on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits in Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf.

Abstract

The study of effect of moisture stress on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits in Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. was conducted on tender seedlings of 45 days in the month of May having maximum  temperature 42.1°C in Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi. The selected seedlings were subjected to regular irrigation served as control (MC, IC and SC), withholding irrigation up to 24 hours (MS), 36 hours (IS) and 48 hours (SS) served as mild, intermediate and severe moisture stress, respectively. There was no significant difference on morphological parameters like plant height, root length and collar diameter by the influence of moisture stress. Percent reduction of root length and  number of leaves under moisture stress was in a pattern of MS-mild stress (8.37%) < IS-Intermediate stress (8.67%) < SS-severe stress (15.14%) and MS-mild stress (13.23%) < IS-Intermediate stress (17.94%) < SS-severe stress (48.91%) respectively. The fresh root weight and dry root weight showed a decrease in all the water stressed plants over the irrigated control plants with percent reduction of MS-mild stress (13.10%) < IS-Intermediate stress (47.78%) < SS-severe stress (61.38%) and MS-mild stress (7.46%) < IS-Intermediate stress (15.18%) < SS-severe stress (18.25%).The Excised Leaf Water Loss (ELWL), chlorophyll content and proline of the leaves as influenced by different levels of moisture stress. ELWS and proline increases with stress level The maximum ELWL (37 %) and proline (1.520mg) was observed in severe stress (T6) seedlings. The moisture stress reduced the chlorophyll contents significantly in all level of stress conditions with the percent reduction of chlorophyll content under moisture stress was in a pattern of MS-mild stress (30.41%) < IS-Intermediate stress (39.20%) < SS-severe stress (67.97%).