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Effects of mild drought stress on the morpho-physiological characteristics of a bambara groundnut segregating population

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Abstract

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.) is a drought tolerant underutilised indigenous African legume. The present study aimed to examine the response of bambara groundnut under increasing drought stress and the effects of cumulative mild drought on final yields. The components of morpho-physiological traits were measured for a small F5 breeding cross of bambara groundnut exposed to progressive mild drought in controlled-environment tropical glasshouses. Drought stress reduced stomatal conductance significantly (F (1,130) = 2259.59, p < 0.01), with variation observed between lines of the segregating population (F (64,130) = 16.27, p < 0.01). Higher stomatal density and reduced leaf area were observed in drought treatment plants (p < 0.01). Mild drought stress negatively influenced 100-seed weight (F (1,258) = 19.4, p < 0.01) and harvest index (F (1,258) = 12.87, p < 0.01) by 8 and 15.6 %, compared to the control irrigated treatment, respectively. Bambara groundnut used a combination of mechanisms to tolerate drought stress, including stomatal regulation of gas exchange, reduction of leaf area and maintenance of a relatively high leaf water status and relatively high levels of photosynthesis. Strong genotypic variation observed for many traits in the F5 segregating population allows individual lines with potentially greater tolerance for drought, combined with higher yielding characteristics, to be selected for future breeding programmes in bambara groundnut.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus under Malaysia Intercampus Doctoral Award Scheme (MIDAS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Research Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Hui Hui Chai & Festo Massawe

  2. Crops For the Future, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

    Sean Mayes

  3. Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leics, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK

    Sean Mayes

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  1. Hui Hui Chai
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Correspondence to Hui Hui Chai.

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Chai, H.H., Massawe, F. & Mayes, S. Effects of mild drought stress on the morpho-physiological characteristics of a bambara groundnut segregating population. Euphytica 208, 225–236 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-015-1581-2

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