A gradual reduction in leaf water potential ( leaf ), net photosynthetic rate (P N ), stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate was observed in two drought tolerant (C 306 and K 8027) and two susceptible (RW 893 and 899) genotypes subjected to water stress. The extent of reduction was lower in K 8027 and C 306 and higher in RW 893 and RW 899. Rewatering the plants after 5 d of stress restored P N and other gas exchange traits in all four cultivars. Water stress had no significant effect on variable to maximum fluorescence ratio (F v /F m ) indicating that water stress had no effect on primary photochemistry of photosystem 2 (PS2). However, water stress reduced the efficiency of excitation energy transfer (F ' v /F ' m ) and the quantum yield of electron transport ( PS2 ). The reduction was more pronounced in susceptible cultivars. Water stress had no significant effect on photochemical quenching, however, the non-photochemical quenching increased by water stress.
Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments, specific to more vulnerable regions. Adopting the definition of vulnerability given by IPCC, vulnerability was assessed for 572 rural districts of India. Thirty eight indicators reflecting sensitivity, adaptive capacity and exposure were chosen to construct the composite vulnerability index. Climate projections of the PRECIS model for A1B scenario for the period 2021-2050 were considered to capture the future climate. The data on these indicators were normalized based on the nature of relationship. They were then combined into three indices for sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity, which were then averaged with weights given by experts, to obtain the relative vulnerability index. Based on the index, all the districts were divided into five categories with equal number of districts. One more district was added to 'very high' and 'high' categories. The analysis showed that districts with higher levels of vulnerability are located in the western and peninsular India. It is also observed that the highly fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains are relatively more sensitive, but less vulnerable because of higher adaptive capacity and lower exposure.
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