ALTERATIONS IN ANTIOXIDANT METABOLISM AND GROWTH IN PASPALUM SCROBICULATUM L. VARIETIES SUBJECTED TO DROUGHT STRESS

Abstract

Drought is a major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Plants have different
mechanism to cope with water scarcity. Hence, the aim of the present study was to
understand the effect of drought stress on growth and anti-oxidant activities of two
varieties of Paspalum scrobiculatum. The experiments were carried out in a pot culture.
Two varieties of P scrobiculatum L. were selected for the study. Three regimes of
drought stress (3, 5 and 7 DID) were imposed from 20 to 40 DAS. The samples were
collected in 40, 60 and 80 DAS and were analyzed for estimating growth parameters
and antioxidant enzymes. The data clearly showed increased drought stress declines
shoot length, total leaf area and shoot fresh and dry weight whereas, root length, root
fresh and dry weight increased. The enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD),
ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid (AA) and α-tocopherol (α-
TOC) increased in both root and shoot of P. scrobiculatum under drought stress,
supports its drought tolerance adaptations. In addition, both the varieties showed a
tendency of recovery when the drought stresses were removed.