EFFECT OF WATER STRESS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT (VIGNA SUBTERRANEA (L.) VERDC.) ACCESSIONS

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of water stress on physiological parameters of bambara groundnut, twenty-eight accessions were evaluated at the Experimental garden of the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State Nigeria. They were subjected to two treatments, water stressed and non-water stressed. The accessions were sown in planting bags and arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Significant differences in all physiological parameters were observed between the bambara groundnut accessions in both the water stressed and the non-water stressed treatment. Relative water content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content was higher in non-water stressed plants than water stressed plants, although relatively high water content, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll contents were still observed in stressed plants. It was also observed that bambara groundnut accessions explored drought tolerant mechanisms by closing their stomata to reduce water loss.

Keywords

• accessions
• bambara groundnut
• chlorophyll
• drought
• relative water content
• water stress.