Influence of Water Stress on Water Relations, Photosynthetic Parameters and Nitrogen Metabolism of Moth Bean Genotypes

Abstract

Effects of water stress at pre-flowering stage were studied in three genotypes (RMO-40, Maru moth and CZM-32 E) of moth bean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal]. Increasing water stress progressively decreased plant water potential, leaf area, net photosynthetic rate, starch and soluble protein contents and nitrate reductase activity while contents of reducing sugars, total soluble sugar, free amino acids and free proline progressively increased. Significant genotypic differences were observed and genotype CZM-32-E displayed a better drought tolerance than other genotypes.