Effects of Timing of Drought Stress on Phenology, Yield and Yield Components of Short-duration Pigeonpea

Nine short-duration pigeonpea genotypes were given adequate soil moisture throughout growth or subjected to water stress during the late vegetative and flowering (stress 1), flowering and early pod development (stress 2), or podfill (stress 3) growth stages under field conditions. The stress 1 treatment had no significant effect on the time to flowering. No stress treatment affected maturity or inter-plant flowering synchronization. The interval from a newly opened flower to a mature pod was about 30 days for all genotypes, and was unchanged in plants that were recovenng from stress 1 or undergoing stress 2. Seed yield was reduced to the greatest extent by stress 2 (by 37 %) and not significantly affected by stress 3 for all genotypes. No consistent differences were found between determinate and indeterminate genotypes in the ability to maintain seed yield under both stress 1 and stress 2. The harvest index was significantly reduced (22 %) by stress 2 but not by stress 1. However, under each soil moisture treatment, genotypic differences for seed yield were associated largely with differences in total dry matter production (TDM). For all genotypes, the number of pods m^-2 was the only yield component significantly affected by the water stress treatments. The stability of other yield components should be fully exploited to improve the stability of seed yield under drought conditions (drought resistance). Possible characteristics which may improve the drought resistance of short-duration pigeonpea include the ability to maintain TDM, low flowering synchronization, small pod size with few seeds pod^-1, and large 100-seed mass.     

Effects of Timing of Drought Stress on Abscission and Dry Matter Partitioning of Short-duration Pigeonpea

Shoot dry mass partitioning and cumulative abscission of leaf, flowers and pods were determined for nine short-duration pigeonpea genotypes grown with adequate soil moisture throughout growth (control), or subjected to water stress during the late vegetative and flowering (stress 1), flowering and early pod development (stress 2), or pod fill (stress 3) growth stages. The total cumulative dry mass of abscised plant parts was lower for determinate genotypes, but it increased to a greater extent under water stress than that for indeterminate genotypes, with stress 2 having the greatest and stress 3 die least effects. The dry mass contribution of pods to total abscission was ≤ 5%, and not signiflcantiy affected by water stress, while the contribution of leaves increased and mat of flowers decreased. Stress 3 had no significant effects on abscission dry mass totals or components. Reduction in shoot dry mass under water stress was most pronounced for genotypes in die early pod development stage, and the dry mass contribution of leaves generally decreased and that of pods increased under stress 1 and stress 2. With similar abscission levels, the shoot dry mass of genotype ICPL 151, was similar to, or greater than, that of hybrid ICPH 9, under stress 1 and stress 2, and the contribution of pods to shoot dry mass was lower for hybrid ICPH 9 under both stress treatments. Genotypic differences in drought resistance were likely due to differences in the leaf area maintenance during, and in the recovery of dry mass and pod production following, water stress periods.     

Evaluation of and selection criteria for drought resistance in Chinese semiwinter rapeseed varieties at different developmental stages

The impacts of water deficit imposed at either the germination stage or the reproductive stage on biological traits of 37 semiwinter rapeseed varieties were analysed. The osmotic stress induced by 14% polyethylene glycol had a substantial impact on seed germination and caused significant reductions in plant growth and seed vigour. Relative water content was identified as a good indicator for early screening of drought resistance. At the reproductive stage, seed yield, 1000‐seed weight, height of the first branch, plant height and number of pods per plant were all markedly reduced under the exceptionally long and severe drought condition. Two of the top three resistant genotypes at the germination stage were also shown to be resistant based on the drought susceptibility index for seed yield. Phenotypic correlation and path analyses were employed to rank the relative importance of other agronomic traits with regard to seed yield. The important contributors to seed yield under drought conditions, in descending order, were as follows: 1000‐seed weight, days to maturity, number of pods per plant and plant height.     

Growth Analysis in Relation to Pigeonpea Improvement

An attempt was made to assess possible constraints to higher production, with respect to partitioning of total dry matter to reproductive sinks in early pigeonpea. Growth, dry matter accumulation and yield components were determined in four diverse genotypes under four dates of sowing and different plant densities. Data on growth characteristics, dry matter accumulation (vegetative and reproductive) were obtained for three sowings, while the data on yield components were obtained for two dates of sowing. Growth analysis showed that the total dry matter was low upto 30 days after sowing and increased linearly upto 120 days. Coversely, LAD was high for the first 30 days and reduced at later stages of growth. The mean LAI of genotypes did not very much at initial stage of growth. However, it has given interesting picture during 70 to 90 days of growth. The higher biological yield and seed yield were attributable to high LAI and LAD coupled with thick stem, more effective branches, more pods per plant and larger raceme length. Harvest index was the maximum with increased plant populations in all sowings. Indeterminate varieties under high plant density and narrow row spacing (50 cm) developed a large leaf area and were presumably able to make better use of light. Growth and branching of individual plants were reduced at the higher plant population, but on per unit basis more dry matter was produced. It is suggested that breeding should be concentrated to improve an inability to accumulate adequate vegetative dry matter for the maintenance and filling of pods, may force the plant to continue vegetative production into the reproductive dry matter to support production of ultimate seed yield.     

Physiological Basis of Yield Variation in Short-duration Pigeonpea Grown in Different Environments of the Semi-Arid Tropics1

Five short-duration pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) genotypes were grown at three plant populations in three locations during the 1986 and 1988 rainy seasons, to determine the physiological basis of observed variations in yield. Significant differences were found in seed yield (Y), crop growth rate (C), and the durations of vegetative (Dv) and reproductive (Dr) growth, and partitioning (P). These were attributable to genotypes and their interactions with environments (except for C). Variation in C, Dr, and P together explained 78 % of the observed variation in Y due to different genotypes and environments. Crop growth rate alone contributed about 71 % of the variation in Y, and reached an optimum value of around 6.5 kg ha^?1°Cd^?1. Crop growth rates increased with the duration of the vegetative period and with plant population. However, a negative relationship between C and P resulted in plant population having little effect on seed yield. The maximum-yielding genotype, ICPH 8 had the highest C and an intermediate P.     

Traits related to drought resistance in common bean

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is grown in regions where water deficits during reproductive development significantly reduce yield. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of specific phenological and physiological traits with drought resistance in common bean. Five genotypes were grown under and near a rain shelter in 1988, and an additional 16 progeny lines were included in 1990. Drought stress determined by the drought intensity index was severe (0.78) in 1988 and more moderate (0.63) in 1990. Water stress reduced the expression of most traits with the exception of days to flower and leaf moisture retention capacity. Seed yield among genotypes was reduced from 22 to 71% due to drought. Yield under stress was correlated with yield under nonstress in 1990 and negatively correlated with the drought susceptibility index in 1988. Yield components which exhibited the largest differential genotypic responses to stress were pod and seed number, whereas seed size was more stable. Genotypic variation was detected in all the partitioning indexes, chiefly harvest index and relative sink strength, and the heritability estimates for these traits were high. The limited genetic variability observed among water relations traits and their role in water conservation would restrict their potential use in the selection for drought resistance in common bean. The differential correlations between phenological, biomass and partitioning traits and the indexes for yield and drought susceptibility would suggest that the most effective approach in breeding for drought resistance in common bean would be based first on selection for high geometric yield followed by selection among the high-yielding individuals for low to moderate levels of the drought susceptibility index. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Population on Physiological Growth Parameters of Pigeonpea Genotypes in Sole and Intercropped Stand with Sorghum CO 22

A field experiment was conducted during khariff 1984 in sandy clay loam soil under irrigated condition at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, with a view (i) to find out the possibility of introducing short duration dwarf variety of sorghum CO 22 as an intercrop with pigeonpea genotypes, (ii) to study the effect of different plant population levels and intercropping of sorghum CO 22 on pigeonpea genotypes, and (iii) to find out compatible pigeonpea genotypes and plant population level for pigeonpea based intercropping system with sorghum CO 22.
It was observed that increased plant density significantly increased the dry matter production, leaf area index (LAI) and crop growth rate (CGR) during early stages and reduced the net assimilation rate (NAR), relative growth rate (RGR) and CCR during later part of the growth. Intercropping of sorghum CO 22 significantly reduced the dry matter production LAI, CGR, NAR and RGR. Plants in the intercropped stands recorded higher CGR, NAR and RGR during later part of the growth. Among pigeonpea genotypes CO 5 was much affected due to intercropping with sorghum CO 22.     

Influence of Water Stress on Grain Yield and Vegetative Growth of Two Cultivars of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Lack of water during vegetative and/or reproductive growth stages is one of the most limiting factors for bean growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water stress applied during two phenological stages (flowering and pod filling) on growth, yield and yield components. Two genotypes of bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were used in this study, cv. Carioca, an indeterminate Brazilian landrace, and cv. Prince, a determinate cultivar grown in Europe. Carioca appears to be generally stress-tolerant while Prince is intolerant. Plants were grown in large plastic pots covered with a black plastic sheet to protect the soil from rain and evaporation. The water stress treatments were: control (well-watered plants), WSFS (water stress during flowering stage) and WSPFS (water stress during pod-filling stage). Water stress reduced yield and yield components at both flowering and pod-filling stages. The parameters affected were seed weight, number of seeds per plant and number of pods per plant. Number of seeds per pod and seed weight were not affected. No effects of water stress were detected on harvest index. Time to maturity was slightly prolonged, especially for WSFS. Water stress at both stages resulted in lower accumulated water loss compared to the control plants. Water stress during both phenological stages reduced other growth parameters, the number of trifoliate leaves, stem height, number of main branches and number of nodes on the main stem.     

花期干湿交替对玉米干物质积累与再分配的影响

通过干湿交替处理模拟花期季节性干旱,研究了不同的土层厚度、干旱强度对不同基因型玉米干物质积累与再分配的影响。结果表明,花期严重干旱促使叶片急剧衰老,但根系发育相对稳定,以尽可能地维持茎秆正常生长,从而导致叶片（根）所贮藏干物质转移至果穗的百分率比轻度干旱增加8.48个百分点,茎秆原贮藏干物质转移至果穗的     

Responses of Canopy Photosynthesis,Spectral Indices and Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Cotton under Drought Stress

[Objective] Study canopy photosynthesis, spectral indices and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence in cotton under drought stress. [Method] Using transgenic cotton cultivar Nongda 601 as material, a two-year experiment was conducted with four irrigation regimes (CK, light drought, moderate drought and severe drought) under a field mobile shed to measure the following indices and parameters at canopy level: canopy photosynthetic rate (CAP), spectral indices (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and water index (WI)) and solar-induced fluorescence at 761 nm (F761), as well as plant leaf water content (LWC) and leaf area index (LAI). [Result] The results indicated that LWC, LAI, CAP, NDVI, PRI and F761showed a downward trend along with the prolonging of the drought stress, while WI showed an increasing trend. Extremely significant differences (P＜0.01) were found among drought treatments and CK for all parameters. NDVI, PRI and WI were significantly correlated with LAI and LWC (P＜0.01). The absolute values of correlation coefficient for NDVI, PRI, WI, F761with LAI (|r|>0.6) were lower than those with LWC (|r|>0.8). F761 was better correlated with leaf water content and LAI than other spectral indices. [Conclusion] It was concluded that CAP, PRI, NDVI, WI and F761 are good indicators in cotton leaves during drought stress. Solar-induced fluorescence seems more sensitive to leaf water status than other spectral indices at canopy level in cotton.     

Trait identification and QTL validation for reproductive stage drought resistance in rice using selective genotyping of near flowering RILs

Drought resistance is becoming an indispensable character for rice improvement due to the dwindling global water resources. Genetic improvement for drought resistance is achieved through physiological dissection and genetic analysis of independent component traits associated with crop productivity under stress. A subset mapping population of 93 near flowering recombinant inbred lines with uniform phenology was constituted for genetic analysis of reproductive stage drought resistance. The population was phenotyped for 22 physio-morphological traits under two contrasting water regimes imposed at reproductive stage. Broad sense heritabilities of morphological traits were lower under stress than irrigated. Predominant association of plant height, panicle exsertion and harvest index with grain yield were observed under stress. The sustenance of panicle exsertion through maintaining growth during moisture stress was found as a significant trait associated with the grain yield through minimizing spikelet sterility. Selective genotyping was carried out with 23 polymorphic microsatellite markers of the established target genomic regions for drought resistance. The study validated the association of a QTL region on the long arm of chromosome 1 with plant height, panicle length, panicle exsertion, biological yield and stomatal conductance under stress. This region, flanked by markers RM246 and RM315, was known to possess the semi-dwarf gene, sd-1. Role of another major interval lying between RM256 and RM149 on chromosome 8 in defining the drought resistance could be established through identification of QTLs associated with leaf rolling, panicle exsertion, plant height, panicle length, senescence and biological yield under moisture stress condition. Few other QTLs were also identified.     

Variability and Correlations in Grain Sorghum Genotypes (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) Under Drought Conditions at Different Stages of Growth

Twenty-two genotypes of grain sorghum were grown under drought conditions by omitting one irrigation during stages of before flowering period, kernel filling period, and physiological maturity period at Assiut Univ. Farm in 1987 and 1988 seasons. The results obtained revealed that considerable variation existed among genotypes for all the studied traits. The most effective moisture stress treatment in reducing grain yield, panicle weight and plant height was during flowering stage. While 1000-kernel weight was much affected by moisture stress during grain filling period. The genotype x year interaction (σ²_gy) was large compared to genotype x irrigation treatment (σ²_gl) indicated that genotypes responded differently when they were grown from year to year. The genotypic variance (σ²_g) for all traits were large reflecting the importance of genetic variability. Both phenotypic and genotypic correlations among traits showed that plant height and 1000-kernel weight were highly correlated with grain yield, while leaf area index was low associated with plant height.     

Maize Genotypes Differing in Salt Resistance Vary in Jasmonic Acid Accumulation During the First Phase of Salt Stress

Plant hormones are considered to play an important role in plant adaptation to drought and salt stress. The objective of the study was to investigate the changes in endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) in relation to differences in the salt resistance of maize genotypes. Two maize genotypes (SR 03 and Across 8023) were compared for changes in water relations, growth and tissue JA levels in response to 100 mm NaCl. Salt stress significantly reduced the shoot growth of both genotypes; however, SR 03 exhibited significantly less reduction in relative shoot fresh weight than Across 8023. Both genotypes showed an identical response to salt stress regarding plant water relations; therefore, genotypic differences in the salt resistance could not be attributed to changes in shoot turgor and these results were further confirmed by the response of both genotypes under equiosmotic stress (?0.49 MPa) of either 100 mm NaCl or PEG‐6000. GC‐MS/MS analysis showed that salt stress did not alter shoot JA levels of both genotypes, however significantly increased the root JA levels of Across 8023. In contrast, root JA levels of salt‐resistant SR 03 did not change by salt stress. Increase in root JA levels in response to stress treatments does not coincide with the growth inhibition of shoot in Across 8023. In contrast, both PEG and NaCl did not change the JA concentrations in both root and shoot tissues of SR 03. Growth assays with maize seedlings showed that JA supply in root medium inhibits shoot extension growth and both maize genotypes were sensitive to the inhibitory effects of JA. These results suggest that maize genotypes differ in JA accumulation during the first phase of salt stress and JA may indirectly be involved in leaf growth inhibition of the salt‐sensitive genotype. In addition, our results also showed that treatment of salt‐stressed plants with exogenous JA improved the Na⁺ exclusion by decreasing the Na⁺ uptake at the root surface.     

Water Sensitive Periods during the Reproductive Growth Phase of Glycine max L. II Establishing Water Stress Sensitivity

The water sensitivity of soybeans was determined on a day-to-day basis from the onset of flowering to physiological maturity by correlating daily leaf water potential values of 50 different soil water regimes with corresponding grain, vegetative and biomass yields. Days, and consecutive days forming periods, during which significant negative correlations were obtained were regarded as water sensitive periods during the reproductive growth phase of the soybean crop.
Water deficits during flowering significantly inhibited vegetative and biomass production but inhibited grain yields only when occurring during early flowering. During pod elongation and seed development the sensitivity of the soybean plant to water stress was present but diminished in time with regard to vegetative and biomass yields. The effect on grain yields was restricted to pod elongation and to later seed development stages. Water stress affected grain yields to a far greater extent than vegetative growth during seed filling and physiological maturity.     

Physiological Responses and Dry Matter Partitioning of Summer Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Genotypes Subjected to Drought Conditions

Drought is the most important limitation to summer mungbean production in the tropics and subtropics dependent on usually insufficient summer rainfall. As increased irrigation is not a viable answer to the problem, an economically and environmentally desirable solution is new varieties with drought tolerance. However, there is little genotypic information on drought tolerance in summer mungbean. The objectives of this study were to assess the genotypic differences in physiological traits and dry matter partitioning in mungbean and to measure the association of these traits with crop performance under drought conditions. Six mungbean genotypes were tested in drought micro plots at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. A split plot design was used; two irrigation treatments (watered and droughted) in the main plots and six mungbean genotypes in the subplots with three replicate micro plots. Drought decreased leaf water status, rates of photosynthesis (P_n) and altered dry matter partitioning in different plant parts. Our results showed that P_n did not limit yield, but it was partitioning of dry matter governed by leaf water content (RWC) which influenced the final yield. RWC was positively correlated to the number of pods per plant and seed yield, genotypes maintaining high RWC produced higher seed yield. Therefore, the drought tolerance of summer mungbean was related to the maintenance of high RWC, which can be used as a physiological marker to identify and develop superior genotypes suited to drought-prone environments.     

Genotypic Variability in Drought Performance and Recovery in Cowpea under Controlled Environment

Mid‐season drought is a factor frequently limiting crop production in the moist to dry savannah zones of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Ten cowpea genotypes were subjected to a cycle of drought at flowering followed by re‐watering to study variation in drought performance and recovery. Drought caused a reduction in leaf assimilation rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance with genotypic variances of 75.4, 57.9, and 83.3 %, respectively. Only genotypic variance in stomatal conductance increased appreciably under drought. Reductions in leaf water potential as a consequence of drought positively correlated with a decline in assimilation rate, which was associated with stomatal closure. One week after re‐watering, the three gas exchange parameters of stressed plants recovered fully and attained values 10–30 % higher than the well‐watered plants with increased genotypic variability. Reductions in the total dry matter during the drought interval varied from 11 to 50 % among genotypes, but were of minor importance for the total dry matter at maturity. After stress, the gain in dry matter varied considerably among the stressed genotypes, with stressed plants showing higher gain than the unstressed plants during this interval. This was associated with increased availability of assimilates due to enhanced green leaf area duration after stress release. Variability in drought recovery among genotypes was found, and appears to be more important for final yield than responses during drought.     

Patterns of osmotic adjustment in pigeonpea — its importance as a mechanism of drought resistance

Osmotic adjustment (OA) is considered as an important physiological mechanism of drought adaptation in many crop plants. The present investigation was aimed at assessing the importance of OA in improving productivity under drought. Using two automated rain-out shelters, 26 extra-short-duration pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotypes were grown with irrigation during the growth period or with water deficit imposed from flowering until maturity. Mean leaf Ψs₁₀₀ (60–92 DAS) under drought correlated significantly (r²=0.72**; n=26) to the mean OA (60–92 DAS) and contributed 72% of the genotypic variation in OA. Significant genotypic variation was observed in the initiation of OA, the duration of OA and the degree of OA. Based on the measured OA at 72, 82, and 92 days after sowing (DAS), genotypes were grouped into five different clusters. Genotypic differences in total dry matter production under drought were positively associated with OA at 72 DAS (r²=0.36**, n=26). Significant positive relationship between OA at 72 DAS and grain yield under drought was found (r²=0.16*; n=26). However, OA towards the end of pod filling phase, i.e. at 92 DAS, had a significant negative relationship with grain yield under drought (r²=0.21*; n=26). Genotypic differences in grain yield under drought was best explained using stepwise multiple regression to account for differences in OA at 72, 82, and 92 DAS (r²=0.41**; n=78). The degree of OA at 72 and 82 DAS contributed positively to the grain yield, whereas OA at 92 DAS contributed negatively to this relationship.     

Reproductive response of two morphologically different pea cultivars to drought

Water use by semi-leafless peas (Pisum sativum L.) is usually less than that of conventional peas because of their reduced surface leaf area, suggesting that semi-leafless peas would be less sensitive to drought because drought develops later. This work aimed to study the reproductive response of peas cv. Solara (semi-leafless) and cv. Frilene (conventional) subjected to similar controlled soil drought during the critical period occurring between flowering and initial seed filling. Plants were subjected to drought by watering with a fraction of water used in the evapotranspiration of control plants. Soil, pod and seed water contents, leaf water status parameters, dry matter (DM) partitioning, seed yield, yield components and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured. Although soil water content decreased in a similar way in both cultivars, leaf Ψ_w and RWC only decreased significantly in Solara. Well-watered Frilene plants produced higher shoot and pod DM, but lower seed DM. Well-watered Solara plants produced lower pod DM and higher seed DM than Frilene. Under drought, Frilene increased partitioning of total plant DM to vegetative organs, particularly roots, and decreased DM allocation to pods and seeds increasing flower abortion. By contrast, droughted Solara interrupted vegetative growth and increased leaf senescence but maintained similar partitioning of total plant DM to pods and seeds as in well-watered conditions. For both cultivars there was a close relationship between the percentage of total DM partitioned into seeds and WUE_y (water use efficiency on seed yield basis). Results demonstrate that when plants suffered the same level of drought in the soil, the reproductive response of the two cultivars was linked to differences in their WUE.     

Nitrogen Requirements at Different Growth Stages of Short-duration Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp)1

The response to N fertilization of a short-duration pigeonpea genotype, ICPL 87, was studied in the field to assess the scope for genetically improving symbiotic N₂ fixation by pigeonpea. The field study was undertaken during 1985, 1986 and 1987 growing seasons on Vertisol and Alfisol at ICRISAT Center (peninsular India), Inceptisol at Gwalior (central India) and Entisol at Hisar (northern India) in as non-limiting environmental conditions as possible. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied to the soil at various growth stages to determine when N becomes most limiting. There was a significant response in grain yield to fertilizer N applied at flowering in Vertisol but not in Alfisol, Inceptisol or Entisol. This suggests that biological N₂ fixation by short-duration pigeonpea was not adequate to meet N requirements of the crop grown in Vertisol but that it was probably adequate in the other three soil types. These results are discussed in relation to the nodulation and acetylene reductase activity of pigeonpea and also N mineralization potential of different soils. It can be concluded that there is a need for genetic improvement of N₂ fixing ability of short-duration pigeonpea grown on heavy textured soils such as Vertisols.