EFFECT OF WATER STRESS AND BRASSINOSTEROID ON GROWTH AND PHYSIO - BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLE PLANTS
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Date
2017
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study entitled “Effect of water stress and brassinosteroid on growth and
physio-biochemical characteristics of apple plants” was conducted in the field of the Department of
Fruit Science and Plant Physiology laboratory of Basic Sciences, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during January - June 2016. The objective
of the experiment was to study the effects of imposed water stress and brassinosteroid on growth and
physio-biochemical responses of apple plants. One year old plants of both varieties i.e. Super chief
and Red chief were pre-treated by foliar application of brassinosteroid 0.05 and 0.10 ppm, three days
before subjecting to stress. Water stress conditions were imposed by withholding watering for 15 and
30 days. Growth characteristics viz. plant height, branch number, leaf area, root length, fresh and dry
weight of root and shoot and root-shoot ratio showed significant reduction under water stress. The
maximum reduction in growth parameters was registered by plants subjected to 30 of water stress as
compared to 15 days of water stress. Physiological indices viz. photosynthesis, chlorophyll
fluorescence, canopy temperature depression, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and water use
efficiency showed inhibitions under both water stress durations with maximum reduction under 30
days of water stress than the control for both cultivars. Osmoregulating substances i.e. total free
amino acid, total free proline and total soluble sugars showed increased accumulation and enhanced
activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e. catalase and peroxidase with increasing duration of water stress
which helped in enhancing drought tolerance. However brassinosteroid at both concentrations could
help in maintaining vital growth, physiological and biochemical processes under water stress
conditions. Foliar spray of brassinosteroid (0.05 ppm) prior to imposition of stress can pave the way
to minimize the deleterious effects of water stress on apple plants.
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