Effect of Dikegulac Sodium on Water Stress-induced Changes in Vigna sinensis (L.) Walp.

Abstract

Summary Imposition of water deficit stress by withholding watering in the field, increased water saturation deficit (WSD), reduced leaf water potential (Ψ L), enhanced conductivity of tissue effusates, increased proline level and decreased the levels of chlorophyll and protein in Vigna sinensis (L.) Walp. cv. Pusa Phalguni. Feeding of 0.5 g 1-1 dikegulac sodium through the roots, followed by folliar spraying of 15days old seedling (twice at an interval of 15 d), prevented loss of shoot and root dry mass but increased root: shoot ratio of water stressed Vigna plants. This treatment also caused stunted growth by shortening internodes and also increased the number of xylem elements in stressed plants. Improved water status, as increased by WSD and ΨL, decreased conductivity of tissue effusates, increased levels of chlorophyll and protein and reduced accumulation of proline in DK-treated stressed Vigna plants, suggest that DK is a potentially useful hardening agent against water deficit stress.