Effect of moisture stress on total chlorophyll content of cotton

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during kharif season of 2018-19 at the experimental field of Cotton Research Unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (M.S.). There were two different conditions were maintained, one set was grown in field condition (non-stress) in randomized block design and another set of genotype in pot was placed under rainout shelter (water stress condition). The seeds of ten cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) genotypes viz., AKH-09-5, AKH-2012-8, AKH-1301, AKH-1302, NH-545, AKH-9916, AKH-8828, PKV Rajat and NH-615 were sown in both conditions in three replications. The study was aimed to determine the influence of water stress on cotton physiology including total chlorophyll content. Under control condition pot culture was maintained with desired quantity of irrigation up to initiation of bolls. Water stress was imposed at initiation of bolls (75 DAS) for 12 days to every genotype and replication wise. Second stress was imposed 12 days after first stress. Genotypes under water stress condition was sown in 90 earthen pots with five holes of 2.5 cm deep. The observation for chlorophyll content was recorded at 90, 60 and 120 DAS. In the conducted experiment some of the G. hirsutum genotypes showed highest total chlorophyll content at the initial stage of plant growth and gradually it decreased afterwards during boll development stage in both conditions. Moisture stress adversely affected the content of chlorophyll pigment of genotypes after imposition of water stress which was tested under control condition (stress condition).