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Sequence of physiological responses in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) subjected to soil moisture deficit

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Responses of drought-tolerant (DT) and drought-susceptible (DS) pot-grown groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties to changes in leaf relative water content (RWC) were studied. Water stress (WS) was imposed on 30-day-old plants for 2 weeks. Leaf RWC decreased significantly under WS conditions with simultaneous decrease in net photosynthetic rate (P N) and stomatal conductance (g s). Even though no significant difference was observed between DT and DS varieties with regard to RWC, DT varieties were able to maintain significantly higher P N than DS varieties. Higher values of water use efficiency (WUE) were also observed in DT varieties during WS conditions. The decline in P N due to WS could be attributed to both reduction in g s (i.e. stomatal limitation) and to reduction in chlorophyll content (Chl). No significant difference in leaf area index (LAI) was found between DT and DS types and LAI was not reduced by WS. Significant differences were found among the studied groundnut varieties, but not between DT and DS types, in terms of root, aboveground, and total dry mass. These growth parameters significantly decreased under WS conditions. Based on the results, a sequence of physiological responses in groundnut crop subjected to WS was postulated.

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Abbreviations

ADM:

aboveground dry mass

C:

control, irrigated plants

Chl:

chlorophyll

DS:

drought-susceptible

DT:

drought-tolerant

E :

transpiration rate

g s :

stomatal conductance to water vapour

LAI:

leaf area index

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

RDM:

root dry mass

RLA:

relative leaf area

RWC:

leaf relative water content

SLM:

specific leaf mass

TDM:

total dry mass

WS:

water stress

WUE:

water-use efficiency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Post Box no.397, Keren, The State of Eritrea, North East Africa

    P. R. Jeyaramraja

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Arts & Science College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    S. S. Thushara

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  1. P. R. Jeyaramraja
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  2. S. S. Thushara
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Correspondence to P. R. Jeyaramraja.

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Acknowledgements: Authors are grateful to the Management of Karpagam Arts and Science College for their encouragement in addition to providing greenhouse, laboratory, and all other equipment to conduct this study. Financial support from UGC, New Delhi is acknowledged.

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Jeyaramraja, P.R., Thushara, S.S. Sequence of physiological responses in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) subjected to soil moisture deficit. Photosynthetica 51, 395–403 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0037-y

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