KavitaMohan, Krishna2021-06-282021-06-282021M/BPP/327/2018-19https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810169962Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss] is an important oilseed crop belonging to family Brassicaceae (Syn. Cruciferae) which is sensitive to moisture and is adversely affected by moisture stress in terms of growth and yield. Inoculation of plants with microbes such as Trichoderma viride and Bacillus subtilis can enhance plant growth under moisture stress conditions, which is an eco-friendly approach to sustainable agriculture. The present investigation entitled “Response of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss] to moisture stress and its amelioration by microbes.” was conducted with two objectives viz., to identify contrasting set of mustard genotypes against moisture stress and to study the response of microbes on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits in contrasting mustard genotypes under moisture stress. For the identification of contrasting set of mustard genotypes to moisture stress, experiment was performed in Petri dishes with 30 genotypes of mustard viz., NPJ 214, LES 54, NPJ 210, NPJ 210, RB 100, 81J0117, RGN-444, DRMRHJ1118 (Hybrid), DRMRCI 95, NPJ-225, RH 1424, RH 1584, PM-29, PM-30, RB-102, TM 179, PDZ 9, RH 1555, NPJ 211, LES 57, NPJ 212, NPJ 216, RLC 7, DRMR 541-44, DRMRCI 114, RGN 229, DRMR CI70, Kranti, RGN 73, RCH 1## and RLC 3#. All the genotypes were subjected to control (0.0 MPa) and moisture stress (-0.6 MPa and -0.8 MPa) for 7 days and germination percent, seedling length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, vigour index-І and vigour index-II were recorded. Results showed that mustard genotypes on exposure to different moisture stress levels (-0.6 and -0.8 MPa) experienced significant reduction in germination per cent and seedling growth parameters (seedling length, dry weight of shoot and root and vigour index) over control. At maximum moisture stress i.e. -0.8 MPa, genotype NPJ-214 had the minimum reduction while TM-179 showed the maximum reduction in these parameters and hence rated as relatively tolerant and susceptible genotypes, respectively. These two genotypes were further used to study the response of microbes on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits Plant height, relative water content, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll content and leaf area remarkably decreased due to moisture stress and conversely increased in all the microbial treatments over control (without microbial inoculation), whereas lipid peroxidation, proline, antioxidative enzymes viz. catalase and peroxidase were remarkably increased due to moisture stress but decreased by microbial application. On the basis of present study it was concluded that, moisture stress adversely affected morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of mustard genotypes. These parameters were best improved under control as well as moisture stress with the soil application of Trichoderma viride at 35 DAS. Hence, this treatment can be used in ameliorating moisture stress.EnglishThesis