Physiological indices for drought tolerance in rabi sorghum

Abstract

Filed experiments were conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, University newlineof Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during rabi 2004-05 and 2005-06 to study the Physiological newlineindices for higher productivity under receding soil moisture situation on various morphophysiological, newlinebiochemical, biophysical and yield and yield components in sorghum. The newlineexperiments were laid out in randomized block design with sixteen treatments and three newlinereplications. newlineAmong the genotypes, RSLG-262, Phule Yoshodha, PBS-2 and CRS-4 recorded newlinemaximum leaf, stem, panicle and total dry matter at all the stages. The genotypes RSLG-262 newlineand Phule Yoshodha maintained higher photosynthetic rate and lower transpiration rate newlineindicating their drought tolerance nature. The relative water content (RWC) was more in the newlinegenotypes RSLG-262, Phule Yoshodha, PBS-2 and CRS-4 which indicated their drought newlinetolerance nature. These genotypes also recorded higher yield and yield components. Among newlinethe growth parameters, significantly higher LA, LAI, SLW, LAD, NAR, CGR and BMD was newlineobserved in genotypes RSLG-262, Phule Yoshodha, PBS-2 and CRS-4 as compared to other newlinegenotypes. newlineThe various biochemical parameters viz., chlorophyll a chlorophyll b total newlinechlorophyll, NRA, proline, epicuticular wax content was higher in genotypes RSLG-262, Phule newlineYodhodha, PBS-2 and CRS-4 compared to all other genotypes. newlineYield and yield components viz., panicle weight, 1000 grain weight, number of grains newlineper panicle, per day grain productivity, grain yield and harvest index were significantly higher newlinein RSLG-262, Phule Yashodha, PBS-2 and CRS-4 compared to Sigali Local and Barasi zoot. newlineAmong the genotypes RSLG-262, Phule Yodhodha, PBS-2 and CRS-4 were found newlinephysiologically efficient and possessed significantly higher values for all biophysical and newlinebiochemical traits and these genotypes may be used as genetic source for drought tolerance newlinein sorghum. newline