The effect of drought stress on some of morphological and physiological traits of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Agrotechnology, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

3 Islamic Azad University, Eghlid Branch, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume and is an important source of calories, protein, dietary fiber, and minerals for human nutrition. In addition, it provides an essential source of protein for more than 300 million people worldwide including Iran. Drought is one of the most important abiotic stress factors that limits plant growth and results in significant seed yield reductions in around 60% of global bean production areas. Acclimation to water deficit in crops is the result of a series of integrated events. Upon exposure to drought stress, plants exhibit a wide range of responses at the whole-plant, cellular and molecular levels. At the whole-plant level, the effect of drought stress is usually perceived as a decrease in photosynthesis and growth, which is associated with alterations in carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. The reduction in the photosynthetic activity is due to several coordinated events, such as stomatal closure, chlorophylls cleavage and the reduced activity of photosynthetic enzymes. Stomatal closure is probably the most important factor controlling carbon metabolism, but the relative role of other limitations on photosynthesis depends on the severity of water deficit. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of different moisture stress levels on morph-physiological attributes of three common bean genotypes.
 
Materials & Methods
In order to evaluate the effect of moisture stress on some morphological and physiological traits of common bean genotypes, a greenhouse experiment was conducted as factorial design. The experimental factors included irrigation (100% FC; as control, 75% FC; as moderate drought stress and 50% FC; as severe drought stress) and three common bean cultivars (Saleh, Talash and Khomein). The experiment was performed at FUM (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad) glass house in 2015 with three replications. Pots (diameter 20 cm, height 30 cm) were filled with ten Kg of loamy soil and five seeds were planted in each of them. After emergence and establishment of seedlings, two plants were remained in each pot. Irrigation treatments were started at 4th leaf stage and continued up to the end of experiment. Plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root weight, root/shoot ratio, greenness, leaf relative water content, electrolyte leakage, stomatal conductance, biological and seed weight were measured. Data were analyzed using SAS software and least significant difference test (LSD) was used for mean comparisons at 0.05 level in MSTATC software.
 
Results & Discussion
The effect of Irrigation and genotype on plant height, shoot and root weight, chlorophyll at reproductive stage, relative water content, electrolyte leakage and stomatal conductance were significant. Also the interaction effect of irrigation×genotype on root/shoot ratio was significant. Drought stress decreased plant height by 8% and 21.4% in moderate and severe drought stress respectively. Shoot weight decreased by 30.1% (moderate drought stress) and 70.1% (severe drought stress) and root weight decreased by 48.9% (moderate drought stress) and 73.8% (severe drought stress) compared to control. The root/shoot ratio decreased under moderate drought stress in all genotypes but under severe drought stress, root/shoot ratio were increased in Talash and Khomein genotypes. Drought stress decreased chlorophyll content, so that under moderate and severe drought stress chlorophyll content decreased by 12.4% and 31.3%, respectively compare to control. Among genotypes, Saleh accumulated higher leaf chlorophyll content. The relative water content and stomatal conductance declined under drought stress treatments but electrolyte leakage was increased under drought stress treatments. Relative water content decreased by 9.9% and 30.7% under moderate and severe drought stress conditions, respectively compared to control. Under moderate and severe drought stress conditions stomatal conductance reduced by 33.3% and 53.3% respectively compared to control. Electrolyte leakage increased by 24.7% under moderate drought stress condition and 37% under severe drought stress condition compared to control. Also higher relative water content, stomatal conductance, and lower electrolyte leakage was observed in Saleh genotype. The highest seed yield among cultivars was found in Saleh and the highest seed weight was observed in complete irrigation regime. 
 
Conclusion
Based on our results, Saleh genotype produced more seed, biomass, relative water content, chlorophyll, stomatal conductance and lower electron leakage, therefore, it seems that this genotype is more tolerant to moisture stress. However, generally, bean plant seems susceptible to drought, and it might not be feasible to impose high levels of drought stress on this crop.

Keywords


1. Agriculture Statistics. 2015. Ministry of Agriculture Press. 167 pages.
2. Aown, M., Raza, S., Saleem, M.F., Anjum, S.A., Khaliq, T., and Wahid, M.A. 2012. Foliar application of potassium under water deficit conditions improved the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 22(2): 431-437.
3. Bhatt, R.M., and Srinivasa Rao, N.K. 2005. Influence of pod load on response of okra to water stress. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology 10: 54-59.
4. Bota J., Flexas, J., and Medrano, H. 2004. Is photosynthesis limit by decreased Rubisco activity and RuBP content under progressive water stress? New Phytologist 162: 671-681.
5. Broughton, W.J., Hernandez, G., Blair, M., Beebe, S., Gepts, P., and Vanderleyden, J. 2003: Beans (Phaseolus spp.)-model food legumes. Plant and Soil 252: 55-128.
6. Chaves, M.M., Flexas, J., and Pinheiro, C. 2009. Photosynthesis under drought and salt stress: regulation mechanisms from whole plant to cell. Annals of Botany 103: 551-560.
7. Emadi, N., Baloochi, H.R., and Jahanbin, S. 2012. Effect of drought stress on yield, yield components and some of morphological traits of bean genotype COS16. Electronic Journal of Plant Production (In Persian) 5: 1-17.
8. FAOSTAT. 2015. Available at http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
9. Ganjeali, A., and Bagheri, A. 2011. Evaluation of morphological characteristics of root chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in response to drought stress. Iranian Journal of Pulses Research 1: 101-110. (In Persian with English Summary).
10. Hashemi Jazi, S.M., and Danesh S.A. 2003. Effect of row spacing and plant distances in row on grain yield and yield components in Chiti bean cv. Talash. Iranian Journal of Crop Science 5(2): 155-162. (In Persian with English Summary).
11. Hayat, S., and Ahmad, A. 2007. Salicylic Acid a Plant Hormone. Springer. P. 97-99.
12. Jalilian, A., Shirvani, A., Nemati, A., and Basati J. 2001. Evaluation of deficit irrigation on production and economy of sugar beet. Sugar Beet 17: 1-14. (In Persian with English Summary).
13. Kafi, M., and Mahdavi Damghani, A. 2007. Mechanisms of Plant Resistance to Environmental Stress. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Press, 3rd Edition. (In Persian).
14. Karimzadeh, H., Nezami, A., Kafi, M., and Tadayon, M.R. 2016. Investigation of changes in stomatal conductivity, canopy temperature and relative leaf water content of pinto bean genotypes. Crop Physiology Journal 8: 105-120. (In Persian with English Summary).
15. Lawlor, D.W., and Cornic, G. 2002. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation and associated metabolism in relation to water deficits in higher plants. Plant, Cell and Environment 25: 275-294.
16. Pastenes, C., Pimentel, P., and Lillo, J. 2005. Leaf movements and photoinhibition in relation to water stress in field-grown beans. Journal of Experimental Botany 56(411): 425-433.
17. Ramirez-Vallejo P., and Kelly, J.D. 1998. Traits related to drought resistance in common bean. Euphytica 99: 127-136.
18. Rastisani, M.S., Lahouti, M., and Gangeali, A. 2014. Effects of drought sress on morpho-physiological and chlorophyll fluorescence of seedlings of red beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Iranian Journal of Pulse Crops 5(1): 103-116. (In Persian with English Summary).
19. Rodriguez, L. 2006. Drougnt and drought stress on south Texas landscape plants. San Antonio Express News. Avilable at (http: bexar – Tx. T. Tamu. edu).
20. Rosales, M.A., Ocampo, E., Rodriguez-Valentin, R., Olvera-Carrillo, Y., Acosta-Gallegos, J., and Covarrubias, A.A. 2012. Physiological analysis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars uncovers characteristics related to terminal drought resistance. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 56: 24-34.
21. Sairam, R.K. 1994. Effect of moisture stress on physiological activities of two contrasting wheat genotypes. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 32: 584-593.
22. Sairam, R.K., and Saxena, D.C. 2000. Oxidative stress and antioxidant in wheat genotypes: possible mechanism of water stress tolerance. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 184: 55-61.
23. Sairam, R.K., and Srivastava, G.C. 2002. Changes in antioxidant activity in sub-cellular fractions of tolerant and susceptible wheat genotypes in response to long-term salt stress. Plant Science 162: 897-904.
24. Salehpour, M., Ebadi, A., Izadi, M., and Jamaati-e-Somarin Sh. 2009. Evaluation of water stress and nitrogen fertilizer effects on relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll and some other traits of lentils (Lens culinaris L.) under hydroponics conditions. Research Journal of Environmental Science 3(1): 103-109.
25. Schonfeld, M.A., Johnson, R.C., Carver, B.F., and Mornhinweg, D.W. 1988. Water relations in winter wheat as drought resistance indicators. Crop Science 28: 526-531.
26. Sikuku P.A., Netondo, G.W., Onyango, J.C., and Musyimi, D.M. 2010. Effects of water deficit on physiology and morphology of three varieties of NERICA rain fed rice (Oryza sativa L.). ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 5: 23-28.
27. Smart, R.E., and Bingham, G.E., 1974. Rapid estimates of relative water content. Plant Physiology 53(2): 258-260.
28. Turkan, I., Melike, B., Ozdemir, F., and Koca, H. 2005. Differential response of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in the leaves of drought-tolerant P. acutifolius gray and drought-sensitive P. vulgaris L. subjected to polyethylene glycol mediated water stress. Plant Science 168: 223-231.
29. Valentovic, P., Luxova, M., Kolarovic, L., and Gasparikova, O., 2006. Effect of osmotic stress on compatible solutes content, membrane stability and water relations in two maize cultivars. Plant, Soil and Environment 52(4): 186-191.
30. Yadav, R.S., and Bhushan, C. 2001. Effect of moisture stress on growth and yield in rice genotype. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research 2: 104-107.
CAPTCHA Image