BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES INDUCED BY WATER STRESS IN HOT PEPPER (Capsicum annum L.) GENOTYPES

In the agricultural ecosystems, environmental stresses impede plants from expressing full genetic potential. Water stress is one of the major constraints of agriculture production in the world. Ever-changing environmental conditions and lowered ground water levels remained as a significant cause for increased water stress conditions. As chilli is highly prone to water stress owing to their shallow roots, present investigation was carried out to identify drought tolerant genotypes in hot pepper. To distinguish different physiological and biochemical characteristics, twenty six hot pepper genotypes were subjected to mild (80% Field Capacity), moderate (60% Field Capacity) and severe water stress (40% Field Capacity) for one week in the green house. From the present investigation, a significant accumulation of proline and malondialdehyde levels and decrease in the chlorophyll content and relative water content was observed among 26 genotypes. A significant negative correlation was observed between relative water content and Ion Leakage. Furthermore, genotypes showed different responses to drought stress. Principal Component Analysis revealed differential interrelationships among different traits under control and stress conditions. From present investigation five genotypes viz., SHP4884-1-1, LCA353-1-1, BSS355-1-1, CA960-1-1 and LCA334-1-1 were considered to be drought tolerant while four genotypes viz., G4-1-1, S2-1-1, Preethi-1-1 and NCH5-1-1 were considered as drought susceptible. Identified drought tolerant genotypes may be used as parents in the breeding programme.