Investigation of the Mechanism of Physiological Tolerance in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Cultivars under Drought Stress Conditions

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is valued throughout the world for human and animal nutrition because of its high protein, vitamin, and mineral contents. Lentil production has decreased worldwide due to global warming. Although the physiological parameters of lentil plants have been examined under drought conditions, its tolerance mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet. In this study, lentil seedlings following germination were exposed to drought stress using 15% polyethylene glycol (PEG) application for 7 days. The untreated control plants were allowed to grow under conditions similar to that of germination. Oxidative stress responses (relative water content, chlorophyll content, H 2 O 2 formation, lipid peroxidation, and proline accumulation) were compared in leaf samples of experimental and control group plants grown for 7 days under drought stress. Although the physiological and biochemical responses of the cultivars Fırat 87 and Çiftçi were close to each other, proline accumulation, malondialdehyde, and H 2 O 2 levels were found to increase in the Sultan cultivar. Thus, it can be concluded that Fırat 87 and Çiftçi cultivars are more resistant to drought than the Sultan cultivar.

Study of Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Behavior of Cultivated Legume (Lens culinaris Medik Ssp culinaris) in Dry Area of Algeria

“…The water deficit caused a significant decrease in the values of the relative water content explained by the negative correlation r=-0.36 * (Table 4). This result is consistent with those obtained by (Mefti et al, 2001) on Medicago trunculata (L.) populations and (Morgil et al, 2017); on lentil, who showed that any deficiency of water supply perceptible to the plant is expressed by a decrease in the relative water content of its foliar system. The relative water content is the most appropriate parameter to measure the water status of plants under limited water supply conditions, it is an effective criterion for dry environments adaptation of different species, it indicates the state of turgescence of plant tissue and their ability to maintain a level of hydration to guarantee the continuity of its metabolism.…”

“…Our results are in agreement with those of (Gharabi et al, 2018) who noted a reduction in leaf area of olives leaf as a response of salt stress and (Hassani et al, 2008) indicates that decreasing leaf area under stressed conditions is considered as a form of adaptation to salt stress by reducing water losses by transpiration but it causes a decrease in yields due to the reduction of photosynthesis. Our results were also confirmed by Morgil et al, (2017) who demonstrate in a study on physiological Tolerance mechanism in Lentil cultivars under drought stress conditions that Drought stress is characterized by reduced water content, diminished leaf water potential and turgor loss, closure of stomata and decrease in cell enlargement and growth. In addition, the applied water stress from flowering to seed filling stages on four cultivated varieties of lentil caused a strong and significant accumulation of soluble sugars, whose rate had increased in stressed plants with a significant positive relationship (r=+ 0.66**), (Table 4).…”

“…Drought is one of the most vulnerable and frequent abiotic stresses in the Mediterranean area affecting growth and metabolism of all crops; it affects all their physiological and biochemical processes, growth and productivity. Plants experience drought stress when their roots do not get enough water or the transpiration rate is too high (Morgil et al, 2017). Like many other authors, (Idrissi et al, 2013) considered that Lentil crop is strongly sensitive to end-of-cycle dryness, Thus, Drought tolerance assessment is of a great interest in lentil genetic improvement programs to develop varieties which are productive and less sensitive to water deficit.…”

Concentration effect of polyethylene glycol in evaluation of grain legumes for drought tolerance

“…Calculations of osmotic concentration having the maximum differentiating effect were not carried out. In the researches of Morgil (2017) and Sinha (2018) used concentrations were 15 and 18%, respectively, but percentage germination was determined on the seventh day. Both concentrations had a significant stressful effect on lentil seedlings.…”