Water deficit-induced regulation of growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, inorganic nutrient accumulation and antioxidative defense mechanismin mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.)Wilczek)

Abstract

The study was conducted to appraise the influence of water deficit conditions on growth, yield, gas exchange characteristics, and antioxidative defense system in two mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) lines, 97001 and 97012. The plants of both lines were grown for 30 days under normal natural conditions, after which time two drought regimes [control (well-watering and 60% field capacity)] were applied. Data for various attributes were recorded after 30 days of drought application while at maturity, yield attributes were recorded. Water deficit conditions caused a considerable reduction in growth attributes, net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, electron transport ratio, total phenolics, leaf Ca2+ and yield attributes. Imposition of water deficit conditions significantly increased leaf tocopherol contents and activity of catalase in both mungbean lines. Both lines showed a considerable variation in growth attributes, the line 97001 being better in performance compared with 97012 under water deficit conditions.