Physiological investigations on drought tolerance in pigeon pea cajanus cajan l

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, University newlineof Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 2004-05 and 2005-06 to study the influence of newlineplant growth regulators and nutrients on various morpho-physiological, biochemical and yield newlineand yield components in pigeonpea. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design newlinetwenty treatments and three replications. newlineThe morphological parameters viz., plant height, pant spread and days to flower newlineinitiation were significantly higher with the application of miraculan (2.0 ml/l) followed by NAA newline(40 ppm), NAA (20 ppm) and CaCl2 (2%) compared to control. Dry matter accumulation in newlineleaves and total dry matter differed significantly between treatments at all the stages. Among newlinethe treatments, significantly higher dry matter accumulation was recorded with the application newlineof miraculan (2.0ml/l) followed by NAA (40 ppm). newlineAmong the growth parameters significantly higher LA. LAI, SLA, LAD and BMD was newlineobserved with the application of miraculan (2.0 ml/l) followed by NAA (40 ppm), NAA (20 newlineppm), CaCl2 (2%) as compared to control. Yield components viz., number of pods per plant, newlinepod set per cent, number of seeds per plant, 100 seed weight and seed yield were newlinesignificantly higher with the application of miraculan (2.0 ml/l) followed by NAA (20 ppm), newlineCaCl2 (2%) as compared to control. newlineThe various biochemical and biophysical parameters (chlorophyll a . cholorphyll b , newlinetotal chlorophyll, NRA, proline and relative water content) were significantly higher with the newlineapplication of miraculan (2.0 ml/l) followed by NAA (40 ppm), NAA (20 ppm) and CaCl2 (2%) newlineover other treatments. The benefit: cost ratio was higher with miraculan at 2.0 ml/l (4.05) newlinefollowed by NAA at 20 ppm (3.71) and CaCl2 at 2% (3.69). newline