Abstract
Altering climatic conditions and water stress drastically affects the chilli crop yield. In this scenario we adapted a strategic approach for screening of elite chilli genotypes, by exploring role of seed antioxidants in stress tolerance during vegetative phase. A total of 20 chilli genotypes' seed antioxidant potential and its effect on water stress tolerance were studied at three water regimes, namely, control (100% Field Capacity), moderate (80% Field Capacity), and severe (60% Field Capacity) stress conditions. Drought tolerance traits relative water content, chlorophyll content, and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes were measured. A strong correlation was observed between seed antioxidants and water stress tolerant traits in seedlings. Genotypes KCa-5, KCa-6, and KCa-10 showed low quantity of H2O2 and Malondialdehyde in seeds and maintained high membrane integrity and chlorophyll content in seedlings. High content of proline in KCa-5, KCa-7, and KCa-10 seeds retained high relative water content at seedling stage under severe water stress. Present work reveals genotypic differences of hot pepper to different water regimes. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of seed antioxidant variables and drought tolerance indices twenty genotypes segregated into three clusters, namely, drought tolerant and susceptible and moderately tolerant.
Highlights
Climate change, a global phenomenon, has an adverse effect on crop production
A completely randomized block design (CRD) was performed with three replications, where seedlings of each variety were independently assigned to three water regimes: 100% Field Capacity (FC), control; 80% FC, moderate stress; and 60% FC, severe stress for one week using gravimetric method [26] at K L University fields, Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh, India, in the years 20162017
It was evident that MDA and H2O2 were clustered together into group B on the left side of the plot and seed DPPH, total phenolics, reducing power, and proline and the drought tolerance indices of seedlings (DPPH, Total Phenolics (TP), proline, Relative Water Content (RWC), chlorophyll contents, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and catalase activities) were clustered into group A towards the right side of plot (Figure 11)
Summary
Increased reiteration of extreme weather is implicated in the rapid climate change [1] These abiotic stress factors restrain plants from reaching out to their maximum potential, thereby limiting crop productivity. Chilli (Capsicum annuum L) is an important horticultural crop and it has huge diversity and cultivated widely for its pungent fruits It is considered as a significant commercial crop due to its enriched antioxidants, high pungency, rich flavour, and vitamins. According to Blaha and Pazderu [16], seed traits determine the plant growth during vegetation period This emphasizes the significance of seed antioxidants and their implication to stress tolerance during seedling stage. We studied the relation between chilli seed extract antioxidant potential and water stress tolerance at seedling phase
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
