Abstract
Cotton is a vital fiber and oilseed crop badly affected by soil moisture deficit stress. Screening of cotton germplasm is a prerequisite to classify the cotton genotypes as a drought sensitive and tolerant. With the aim to separate the distinct genotypes, eight cotton genotypes (BH-190, Ali Akbar-802, NIAB-86, NIBGE-115, FH-942, IUB-13, MNH-886, and FH Lalazar) were grown under normal moisture (08 irrigations/ 28 acre inches) and moisture stress (03 irrigations at 60, 90 and 120 DAS/ water deficit of 15 inches) environments. The assessment was done through different physiological parameters (stomatal conductance, osmotic and water potential, photosynthetic rate, relative water contents and canopy temperature). Cell injury and yield were also evaluated. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial way with three replicates. The data obtained was investigated statistically at 5% probability and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was used to isolate the significant means (treatment). The results indicated that water stress adversely reduced the values of all the above stated parameters. The cotton genotype BH-190 had significantly greater (p<0.05) yield and physiological attributes and found extra water deficit stress tolerant. While cotton genotype FH Lalazar had least value of these attributes as compared to all remaining cotton genotypes and thus considered as water deficit stress sensitive genotype. So, it can be concluded from the results of this experiment that the physiological screening of low soil moisture stress tolerant varieties could be a superior way to mitigate impact of drought stress on the cotton cultivated in drought susceptible regions. Keywords: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.); Drought tolerant; Physiological; Screening http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90017
Highlights
Introduction executionAfter wheat, cotton is mostCotton is an imperative cash crop raised for noteworthy crop of Pakistan in terms of the fuel, fiber and feed [1]
The different cotton progenies used in this experiment had showed different potentials to tolerate drought stress but on an average the most drought tolerant variety was BH-190 and the drought sensitive variety was FH-Lalazar as it showed the least tolerance to the observed parameters
The results of various experiments demonstrated that the water potential and osmotic potential of different cotton varieties decreased when these varieties shifted from normal soil moisture condition to water deficit condition, resultantly, their turgor pressure decreased and the varieties with the satisfactory water and osmotic potential were considered as drought tolerant [7, 15, 16]
Summary
During 2018-19, the production of cotton crop reached at 9.86 million bales with a decline of 17.5 % than the production of 2017-18 which was 11.94 million bales. Limited availability of water to crop before reproductive stage increases fruit withholding but abridged fruiting branches fruiting sites and nodes [11] This experiment was conducted, keeping in view the present environmental condition, low and uncertain availability of canal irrigation water and significant reduction in yield per unit area, to screen the best drought tolerant variety of cotton among the most cultivated variety of cotton in Pakistan. This experiment had provided a best cotton variety with best genetic makeup which can be used further in breeding programs. Under well-watered environment, highest value was shown by FH Lalazar (0.233), MNH-886 (-0.243), IUB-13 (-0.263), FH-942 (-0.265) and NIAB-86 (-0.286), while cultivar with lowest osmotic potential included BH-190 (-0.298) and Ali Akbar-802 (-0.293) (Table 1)
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