Abstract

Polyethylene Glycol Induced Morphological Changes in Fagopyrum esculentum Moench of Indian Himalayan Region

Author(s): Arti Jamwal, Sunil Puri, Sikha Sharma , Sujata Bhattacharya1 & Navdeep Dhindsa

Water deficit stress is one of the most adverse factors of plant growth and productivity. The objective of present work was to determine the impact of water deficit stress on seed germination and seedling growth in Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. Water deficit stress was induced by using PEG-6000 (Polyethylene glycol 6000) solution. Different concentrations of PEG-6000 (15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% PEG) were used for seed treatment. The seeds were kept for 15 days in B.O.D. incubator at 20±2ºC. The results indicated that drought stress had significant effect on germination percentage and seedling growth parameters. The various osmotic potential generated showed significant decrease in germination percentage except at 15% PEG. All the seedling growth parameters (root length, shoot length, fresh and dry weight) decrease with increase in PEG concentration except the root length at 15% PEG.

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