ROOT GROWTH, POD DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE DYNAMICS IN LENTIL [Lens culinaris (Medikus)] GENOTYPES UNDER WATER DEFICIT CONDITION
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Abstract
Investigation entitled “Root growth, pod development and nutrient uptake dynamics in lentil [Lens culinaris (Medikus)] genotypes under water deficit condition” was carried out during rabi (winter season) 2012-13 and 2013-14 to investigate the effect of water deficit (drought) on germination, root growth, phenology, morpho-physiological, biochemical parameters, nutrient content and partitioning, pod and seed developmental pattern, yield and yield attributes in two contrasting genotypes of lentil HUL-57 (relatively drought tolerant) a and DPL-62 (relatively drought susceptible). Experiments were carried out in three parts. Experiment I was pertaining to the effect of osmotic stress on germination parameters and partitioning of minerals at seedling stage. This experiment was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Plant Physiology. Genotypes HUL-57 and DPL-62 were sown under different concentration of PEG-6000 (T1; 0, T2; 5, T3; 15 % w/v) on germination sheet supplemented with N/2 Hoagland solution. It was conducted to visualize effect of PEG-6000 induced drought stress on germination, root shoot development and nutrient uptake dynamics. Experiment II was conducted in plastic pipes filled with soil to study root developmental pattern under normal and moisture stress conditions. Genotypes HUL-57 and DPL-62 were sown in plastic pipes of 15 cm diameter and 120 cm length under normal condition (regularly irrigated) and stressed condition (irrigated at 50% depletion of available moisture). It was conducted to understand the effect of water deficit on root growth and nutrient uptake dynamics. Experiment IIІ was conducted in the field taking HUL-57 and DPL-62 under irrigated and rainfed conditions to investigate growth parameters, nutrient dynamics, pod development, quality parameters, yield and yield attributes under normal and rainfed conditions. Present investigation indicated that better seedling establishment, seedling vigour, higher root length, increased root:shoot ratio were the morphological parameters associated with moisture stress resistance in lentil. It was also observed that drought resistant lentil genotypes HUL-57 had drought avoidance as well as osmotic adjustment ability. Efficient biomass partitioning to seeds, N fixing ability and maintenance of N, P. Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu in stressed plants are other parameters associated with better performance conferring drought resistance in this crop. It is also concluded that active root growth after 80 DAS and pod wall growth after 20 days of anthesis is not desirable in lentil as these processes act as alternative sink for assimilates and compete with seeds in this crop. It is suggested that phenomenon of osmotic adjustment must be further investigated to ascertain genotypic variation in osmotic adjustment in this crops under moisture stress condition. It is also suggested that large number of genotypes may be screened for their root growth pattern and root hydraulic conductivity.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Singh, A. K. 2016. Root growth, pod development and nutrient uptake dynamics in lentil [Lens culinaris (Medikus)] genotypes under water deficit condition. Ph. D. Thesis, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi.