Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of four medicinal herb species under conditions of water-deficit stress

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Plant Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Abilities of four commercial herb species namely, Chlorophytum borivilianum, Stevia rebaudiana, Withania somnifera, and Andrographis paniculata were tested for relative drought tolerance under poly house conditions. The findings based on the quantum of data collected for growth, yield of economic parts and physiological traits reveal differential relative potential to sustain performance and cope with the conditions of water stress. Comparative performance of four herb species under stress (50% water deficit) for stress duration of 10, 20 and 30 days revealed significant adverse effects of water-deficit stress as well as stress durations. Out of the four herb species studied, adverse impact of 50% water deficit up to 30 days of stress on growth, yield, rate of photosynthesis, canopy temperature depression and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) ratio was significantly higher in S. rebaudiana and A. paniculata in comparison to C. borivilianum and W. somnifera. In this study, C. borivilianum and W. somnifera have exhibited greater relative drought tolerance as compared to A. paniculata and S. rebaudiana.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attia, Z., Christophe, J. D., Oren, R., Danielle, A. W., & Moshelion, M. (2015). Growth and physiological responses of isohydric and anisohydric poplars to drought. Journal of Experimental Botany. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erv195.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Balaguer, L., Pugnaire, F. I., Martinez, F. E., Armass, C., Valladares, F., & Manrique, E. (2000). Ecophysiological significance of chlorophyll loss and reduced photochemical efficiency under extreme aridity in Stipa tenacissima L. Plant and Soil Journal, 240, 343–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebre, G. M., & Kuhns, M. R. (1991). Seasonal and clonal variations in drought tolerance of Populus deltoides. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research, 21, 910–916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guendouz, A., Guessoum, S., Maamari, K., & Hafsi, M. (2012). Predicting the efficiency of using the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) reflectance for estimating leaf chlorophyll content of Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes under semi arid conditions. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 6, 102–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havaux, M., & Lannoye, R. (1983). Chlorophyll fluorescence: A sensitive indicator of water stress in maize plants. Irrigation Science, 4, 147–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibaraki, Y., & Murakami, J. (2006). Distribution of chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm within individual plants under various stress conditions. In XXVII international horticulture congress international symposium on advances in environmental control, automation and cultivation systems for sustainable, high quality crop production under protected cultivation. ISHS Acta Horticulture, 761.

  • Jaimez, R. E., Vielma, O., Rada, F., & Garcia-Nunez, C. (2000). Effects of water deficit on the dynamics of flowering and fruit production in Capsicum ‘Chinense Jacq’ in a tropical semiarid region of Venezuela. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Sciences, 185, 113–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamali, M. M. (2013). Investigate the effect of drought stress and different amount of chemical fertilizers on some physiological characteristics of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.). International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences. ISSN: 2322-4134.

  • Kenneth, O. T., George, N., Chemining’wa, Jane, A., & Willis, O. (2017). Effects of water stress on yield and physiological traits among selected African tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) races. International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, 10, 78–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, K., & Johnson, G. N. (2000). Chlorophyll fluorescence—A practical guide. Journal of Experimental Botany, 51, 659–668.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moradi, P., Lloyd, B. F., & Pritchard, J. (2014). Plant water responses of different medicinal plant thyme (Thyme spp.) species to drought stress conditions. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 8, 666–673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parjer, K. G. (1976). Assessment of irrigation and nutrient effects on growth, yield and water use efficiency of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) in central India. Agriculture and Water Management, 85, 279–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roseles, S., Sinclair, T. R., & Ludlow, M. M. (2004). Influence of soil water supply on the plant water balance of four dry beans legumes. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 13, 329–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, D. M. S., & Alejo, O. N. (1996). Effects o c f water stress in growth, osmotic potential and solute accumulation in cell culture from chilli pepper (a mesophyte) and creosote bush (a xerophytes). Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops, 19, 53–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah, S., Sarvanan, R., & Gajbhiye, N. A. (2010). Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, growth and root yield of ashwagandha (Withania somnefera Dunal) under soil moisture stress. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology, 15, 117–124.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, P. S., Chauhan, S., Thakur, A., & Dhall, S. P. (2000a). Influence of paclobutrazol and moisture stress conditioning on drought susceptibility in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 12, 493–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, P. S., & Sood, R. (2005). Drought tolerance of multipurpose agroforestry tree species during first and second summer drought after transplanting. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology, 10, 32–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, P. S., & Thakur, A. (1993). Influence of triacontanol and mixtalol during plant moisture stress in Lycopersicon esculentum cultivars. Plant Physiology Biochemistry., 31, 433–439.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, A., Thakur, P. S., Attri, S., & Kanaujia, S. P. (1999a). Effect of bioextracts on growth and yield of bell pepper under water stressed conditions. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 56, 46–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, A., Thakur, P. S., Dhall, S. P., & Kanaujia, S. P. (1999b). Screening and evaluation of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) varieties for drought tolerance. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 69, 234–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, A., Thakur, P. S., & Kanaujia, S. P. (2000b). Effect of bioregulators, bioextracts and potassium on growth and related attributes in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) varieties under water stress. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 70, 255–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, A., Thakur, P. S., & Singh, R. P. (1998). Influence of paclobutrazol and triacontanol on growth and water relations in olive varieties under water stress. Indian. Journal of Plant Physiology, 3, 116–120.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zwiazek, J. J., & Blake, T. J. (1990). Effect of preconditioning on electrolyte leakage and lipid composition in black spruce (Picea mariana) stressed with polyethylene glycol. Physiologia Plantarum, 79, 71–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, HP, 173230, India

    Anju Thakur

  2. Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, HP, 173230, India

    C. L. Thakur

Authors
  1. Anju Thakur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. L. Thakur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anju Thakur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thakur, A., Thakur, C.L. Evaluation of four medicinal herb species under conditions of water-deficit stress. Ind J Plant Physiol. 23, 459–466 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-018-0387-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-018-0387-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation