ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (4), pp. 473-482, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Studies on the impact of water deficit on morphological, physiological and yield of banana (Musa spp.,) cultivars and hybrids
K. Krishna Surendar*1, D. Durga Devi1, I. Ravi2, P. Jeyakumar1 and K. Velayudham3
*1Department of Crop Physiology, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003, India.
2National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR), Thiruchirapalli, India.
3Department of Farm Management, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003, India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 27 February, 2013
Abstract
Field investigations were undertaken to screen the banana cultivars and hybrids for water stress tolerance and to elucidate information on morphological, physiological and yield characteristics mechanism of banana cultivars and hybrids. Stress was imposed at different critical stages viz., 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th month after planting. The stress was given by scheduling irrigation at the 50 per cent available soil moisture (ASM) characteristic during critical stages. The soil moisture content was analyzed by using pressure plate membrane apparatus. In control plots, the irrigation was given at the ASM of 80 per cent with the soil water potential of around -6 bars and in the case of stressed plots; the irrigation was given when an ASM reached 50 per cent with the soil water potential of -14 bars. In stressed plots, 50 per cent ASM was reached around 30 days. In this present study conducted with twelve cultivars and hybrids with three replications. The data were analyzed by using split plot design. The morphological characters viz., plant height, and number of leaves were significantly enhanced by control when compared to stress-treated plants and physiological characters like RWC, total chlorophyll content and osmotic potential can be considered good indicators of leaf water status in banana and can therefore be used for irrigation scheduling. Among the twelve cultivars and hybrids, Karpuravalli, Karpuravalli x Pisang Jajee, Saba, and Sannachenkathali was identified as tolerant to water stress and showed lesser reduction in the range of 3 to 14 per cent in morphological characters and 8-10 per cent over control in physiological characters leads to maintained its superiority over control and get higher bunch yield; whereas, Matti, Pisang Jajee x Matti, Matti x Anaikomban and Anaikomban x Pisang Jajee were notified as sensitive cultivars and hybrids with mean reduction of 22 per cent in morphological and physiological characters than control due to irrigation at 50 ASM.
Key words: water deficit, morphological, physiological characters, yield, banana cultivars.