Physiological Screening of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) Varieties by Seedling Germination Traits under PEG Induced Drought Stress

Abstract

Pulses play an important role in Indian diet due to higher protein content. Among the pulses, green gram (Vigna radiata L.) is one of the leguminous crops with high nutritional value, short growing period and soil fertility restoration by biological nitrogen fixation. Drought stress is one of the major constraints for pulse production which negatively affects its growth and production. The present experiment was performed with the objective of studying the seedling germination traits differences in five mung bean genotypes namely, MH421, VBN2, VBN4, CO8 and CO(Gg)912 under water deficit environment. It was done at laboratory conditions using various concentration of PEG 6000 as 5%, 10%, 15%, 18%, 21%. Using this level of moisture stress, 5 green gram genotypes were screened for their drought stress and the following parameters such as radicle length, shoot length, plant height, germination percentage and seed vigour were noted. By observing physiological traits of different genotypes under stress condition and founded that VBN 2 has drought tolerant ability.