Effect of water stress on morphological traits, mucilage percentage and yield of Alyssum homolocarpum

Abstract

A pot experiment was carried out to study the impacts of water stress upon physiological and biochemical properties as well as seed yield and components yield of Alyssum homolocarpum. The factors taken into consideration included water stress (80%), the capacity of field (60%) as well as field capacity (40%) within three stages of growth, stem elongation, flowering and seed setting. While water stress happening three stages of growth culminated in a reduction of plant height, component yield and seed yield, an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) activity was observed. Water stress increased content of proline, soluble sugar and malondialdehyde (MDA). The content of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) decreased in 40% and 60% field capacity at stem elongation stage compared to control. With increasing water stress mucilage percentage increased. In 40% field capacity at elongation stage Alyssum did not have seed yield. In this stress level, at flowering stage and seed setting, seed yield decreased by 85% and 68% compared to control, respectively. Result indicated the most sensitive growth stage to the water stress in Alyssum homalocarpum was stem elongation, Thus, It was suggested that this plant be irrigated at stem elongation to produce acceptable yield.