Rathod, D. T. H.SONONE, MADHAVI PRAKASH.2020-03-122020-03-122019-08-05SONONE, MADHAVI PRAKASH. (2019). Physiological evaluation of cotton genotypes for moisture stress. Department of Agricultural Botany, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Sc. (2019). Print. xiii, 89p. (Unpublished).http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/581014529810 diverse genotypes of Gossypium hirsutum were selected and sown in field condition and water stress condition i.e. control condition. All genotypes were tested for drought tolerance and morpho-physiological responses of genotypes. Promising genotypes were chosen on the basis of mean performance in response to the moisture stress.The present investigation entitled “Physiological evaluation of cotton genotypes for moisture stress” was conducted during kharif season of 2018-19 in RBD on the experimental field of Cotton Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (M.S.) under non stress and water stress condition. The seeds of ten cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) genotypes i.e. AKH-09-5, AKH-2012-8, AKH-1301, AKH-1302, NH-545, P-688, AKH-9916, AKH-88 28, PKV Rajat and NH-615 were sown in three replications. One set of three replications grown in field condition and another set of genotypes replicated thrice was sown in earthen pots under rainout shelter. Present investigation indicates, significant superiority of the cotton genotypes tolerant towards water stress on the basis of morpho-physiological, biochemical, stress indices, seed cotton yield and its attributes. Leaf area (cm2/ plant) was remained significantly higher in AKH-9916 under both stress (1030.04 cm2/ plant) and non-stress condition (1965.44 cm2/ plant) at 120 DAS. Genotype AKH-9916 also recorded significantly higher total dry matter production at harvest under both non stress (58.2 gm/plant) and water stress condition (33.53 gm/plant). Relative water content percentage was recorded significantly higher in genotype AKH-1301 (79.36 %) under non stress condition where in stress condition, it was found lower as compared to genotypes under non stress condition. AKH-9916 (70.86 %) was recorded higher in respect of relative water content percentage in water stress condition at 120 DAS. Significantly more proline content was observed in AKH-09-5 (65.03 µg/g fresh weight) under non stress condition and AKH-1301 (81.8 µg/g fresh weight) in stress condition at 120 DAS. On the basis of stress indices higher yield stability index (0.72) and higher drought tolerant efficiency (73.1 %) was observed in PKV Rajat followed by AKH-9916 and AKH-8828, the released genotype. Under non stress condition AKH-9916 (50.53 g/ plant) was recorded significantly more seed cotton yield followed by NH-615 (49.80 g/plant), AKH-1302 (49.23 g/plant) and AKH-8828 (48.66 g/plant). Under water stress condition, AKH-9916 (36.36 g/plant) was remained significantly higher followed by AKH-8828 (34.86 g/plant) and AKH-1301 (31.63 g/plant) for seed cotton yield. The genotype AKH-1302 (49.23 g/plant) produce statistically more seed cotton yield than the released variety PKV Rajat (40.84 g/plant) followed by AKH-1301 (47.13 g/plant) under non stress condition. Under water stress condition none of the new genotypes recorded statistically more seed cotton yield than the released varieties i.e. AKH-9916, AKH-8828, PKV Rajat and NH-615. The present study projected the significant superiority of cotton genotypes AKH-9916, AKH-8828 and AKH-1301 tolerant towards water stress when sown under stress and non-stress condition. However, the present findings needs further confirmation on multilocation basis.enCrop, Field Crop, Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, Varieties, Drought resistance, Tolerance, Resistant varieties, Production practices, Drought, Irrigation scheduling, Experimentation, Laboratory experimentation, Field experimentation, Statistical method, Data collection, Experimental design.Thesis