AN EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIALITY OF EXOGENOUS OSMOPROTECTANTS MITIGATING WATER STRESS ON CHICKPEA

Abstract

Chickpea is grown mainly as a non-irrigated post rainy season crop, therefore, to increase the economic competitiveness of chickpea, the management of drought is essential. A practice which can be used to enhance drought tolerance in plants is osmotic adjustment besides stomatal control. A field experiment was carried out at the College Farm of Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during rabi 2003-04 to evaluate the potentiality of chemical(s) which could be used to ameliorate water stress and compensate yield reduction in chickpea under unirrigated condition. During investigation four chemicals viz., Glycine betaine (10 ppm 20 ppm), putrescine [16.11 ppm (10 µmol), 32.22 ppm (20 µmol)], PMA (10 and 20 ppm) and KNO3 (100 and 200 ppm) were evaluated along with water spray besides unirrigated and irrigated controls on two varieties of chickpea (GG-2 and Dahod Yellow). Aqueous solutions of chemicals were applied at 40 and 60 Days after sowing (DAS) on to the foliage. The results indicate that grain yield significantly declined due to water deficit. All foliar application of chemicals showed promising effect on crop health under unirrigated conditions. However, the significant effect was noticed with KNO3 (200 ppm). The plants following foliar application of KNO3 (200 ppm) attained significant increase in plant height, dry weight of plant, biomass, 100-seed weight and grain yield. For biomass it was found statistically equivalent to the irrigated control. Application of other chemicals was not as effective as KNO3 in alleviating stress. Glycine betaine showed significant improvement in dry weight and test weight yet it did not project potential yield of chickpea under unirrigated condition at Navsari.