Physiological And Biochemical Plant Responses To Drought Stress In Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R. Br.

Abstract

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important cereal crop of the arid and semi-arid regions of India. It possesses the natural ability to tolerate drought stress condition.Two genotypes of pearl millet, P. glaucum cv. 841B and P. glaucum cv. 411B were assessed for their drought tolerance ability at flowering stage. Pearl millet plants were subjected to drought stress by water withdrawal for different time intervals (10 days, 15 days, 20 days, 25 days) at flowering stage (55 days after sowing). Plant response to drought stress in terms of relative water content, membrane injury, total chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde levels and proline content was analyzed in both the cultivars at different time intervals of drought .Distinct differences were observed in the two genotypes with regard to results of physio-biochemicals assays conducted. The physio-biochemical assays clearly indicated that P. glaucum cv. 841B was drought tolerant in comparison to P. glaucum cv. 411B.