The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Aug 2023)
Genotypic differences in root architecture and physiological characteristics in mango (Mangifera indica) under drought
Abstract
An experiment was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2020 and 2021 to study the genotypic differences in root architecture and physiological characteristics in mango (Mangifera indica L.) under drought. One-year-old polyembryonic 7 mango rootstock genotypes were exposed to normal irrigation and drought conditions for 24 days. The drought-induced increased total plant weight and dry weight in Kurukkan. The shoot dry weight decreased in all genotypes ranging from 5.13% in OLP-Z-6/1 to 81.82% in Kurukkan. There was a lesser reduction in membrane stability index in Kurukkan and K-5, stomata count in Kurukkan, Olour and OPK-3-7/12 at the end of the drought period. Root surface area increased under drought in Kurukkan, while it decreased more in K-5. Correlation studies confirmed a strong positive relationship between relative water content (RWC) and membrane stability index (MSI), number of stomata (SC), number of leaves (NL), root tips (RT) and root forks (NRF); MSI and number of root tips (NRT); dry weight of the whole plant and root surface area (RSA); the dry weight of roots and root volume (RV), RSA, and plant height (Ph); root length (RL) and RSA, RT, and NRF. Kurukkan was identified as drought-tolerant based on a higher SC, RWC, RV, RSA, dry mass, NRT and NRF. Results indicated that the root indices offer a promising strategy for the screening of drought-tolerant mango genotypes.
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