Analysis of the response of the sunflower (helianthus annuus l.) genotypes under polyethylene glycol mediated drought stress in laboratory conditions of rawalakot azad jammu &kashmir pakistan

Abstract

Drought stress directly affects growth along with productivity of plants by altering plant water status. The early effect of drought on plant growth is inhibition of shoot as well as root growth. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) an oilseed crop, is adversely affected by abiotic stresses. The present study was carried out to characterize the genetic variability for seedling and morpho-physiological parameters in different sunflower genotypes under well watered and water stressed conditions. In this study a total of twenty seven genotypes including two hybrids, eight advanced lines and seventeen accessions of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were tested against drought stress at germination and seedling stages. The material was sown within pots at the laboratory of Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics, University of Poonch, Faculty of Agriculture Rawalakot. Five seeds of each genotype were planted in each pot. The experiment was laid out in 2x2 factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Significant means were calculated among traits using analysis of variance (ANOVA) whereas, correlation and Principle component analysis also confirmed that germination percentage, root length, proline content, shoot length, chlorophyll content, stomatal frequency and survival percentage are positively linked with each other hence these traits were responsible for most of variation among genotypes. The cluster analysis verified Ausun, line-2, line-8, 17559, 17578, Hysun-33, 17555, and 17587 as more diverse among all the genotypes.