ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Comparative Screening of Leguminous Tree Species for Drought Tolerance in Lateritic Soils of Purulia, West Bengal

In dry areas, plant productivity is limited by the scarcity of water. This research aims to evaluate the suitability of certain legume plants in the dry laterite soil of Purulia and nearby districts in West Bengal, India. Seedlings, 25 days old, Adenanthera pavonina L., Albizia procera (Roxb.), Pongamia pinnata (L.), and Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex K. Heyne from the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family were subjected to PEG-induced water stress (-0.5 and -1.0 MPa) to measure their relative water content and the levels of chlorophyll, protein, soluble sugars, and proline in their leaves, as well as the activities of the enzymes catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In all species, chlorophyll and protein levels in the leaves decreased with higher PEG-induced water stress, while soluble sugar and proline levels increased. The activity of the enzyme catalase, peroxidase, and SOD also decreased with increased water stress, with the smallest decline observed in P. pterocarpum. This suggests that P. pterocarpum is potentially the most water stress-tolerant among the studied plants.