ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Physio-Morphological and Biochemical Changes in Mungbean Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek due to Drought Stress

Crop plants growing under natural conditions are exposed to several environmental stresses, all affecting plant growth and development, which consequently hampers the productivity of crops plants. Drought is considered the single most devastating environmental stress, which decreases crop productivity more than any other environmental stress. Water stress was given in the potted Vigna radiate plants (for control 1^st set - 4 pots were given regular water, for the 2^nd set -3 days kept without water in the pot, for the 3^rd set -5 days kept without water and for the 4^th set -7days kept without water). The plants were then uprooted and collected for experimental work on the 3^rd, 5^th and 7^th day for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd sets respectively for further studies with drought stress. Total chlorophyll and carotenoid decreased under drought stress while protein, amino acid and proline contents increased under stress. Scavenging enzymes catalase and peroxidase were assayed and while catalase activity increased under stress peroxidase activity was found to decrease under stress.