RESPONSE OF ROUGH LEMON (Citrus jambhiri Lush.) GERMPLASM TOWARDS TRANSIENT WATERLOGGING CONDITIONS
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Date
2023
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Abstract
The present investigation was carried out in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during the period of 2022-23 to evaluate the performance of five rough lemon germplasms under transient waterlogged conditions. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Completely Randomized Block design with three replications consisting of five germplasm (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5), two inundation periods {I1(7 days) and I2(15 days)} and three flooding treatments {F1(75%), F2 (100%), F3 (125%)}. The germplasm were collected from different districts of Assam. The results revealed that at the end of I1, most plant biomass increased with G2 showing the highest increase. However, after end of I2, biomass reduction was observed, with G1 being the least affected. All germplasms showed higher reductions in biomass as flooding percentage increased, with F3 resulting in the maximum reduction. At the end of I1 there was an increase in root diameter except for some germplasm, root volume and number of adventitious roots. G4 showed the highest increase in root diameter, volume, and number of adventitious roots after I1 period. Root length was not affected by the inundation periods. In contrast, after I2 there was a reduction in root diameter, with G4 being least affected. However, root volume and number of adventitious roots increased for G4. Additionally, as flooding percentage increased, root diameter and growth decreased, with F3 causing the maximum decrease. Root volume and number of adventitious roots increased with increase in flooding % with F3 recording the highest increase. Chlorophyll content was negatively impacted by both inundation periods and percentage of flooding. G4 showed the least susceptibility to loss of chlorophyll at the end of 7 and 15 days. All germplasm showed reduced N, P, K, Zn, Mn, Cu content with the increase in inundation period and also percentage of flooding with I2 resulting in a higher reduction. G4 was the least susceptible to N, P and Zn loss overall. G5 had the least reduction in K, Cu and Mn content. Starch in leaves increased with prolonged inundation and higher flooding levels. G4 exhibited the highest content at treatment end. Conversely, starch content decreased with longer inundation and higher flooding levels. G4 was least affected at the end. Prolonged inundation and higher flooding levels led to increased leaf yellowing, wilting and leaf shedding. G4 showed the least number of yellow leaves, wilting and leaf shedding. G5 exhibited the best recovery potential among all germplasm, with the greatest root length after recovery. The plants showed better recovery after 7 days of inundation compared to 15 days. F1 resulted in the best recovery among the germplasm. From this investigation Germplasm 4 which was collected from Biswanath district (Rangamari) was found to be superior among all the germplasm in many morphological as well as physiological characters and thus G4 can be recommended for planting in waterlogging prone areas.