PJB-2020-111
EFFECTS OF WATER DEFICIT ON GROWTH AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS
Norhayati Yusuf
Abstract
Water stress can have major impacts on plant growth and development by the unbalance formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). High production of ROS during water stress can reduce the crop yield, thus affecting productivity. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of water deficit on growth and chlorophyll content of Capsicum frutescens. Capsicum frutescens were treated with different volumes of water (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mL) for 20 days. 100 mL of water was used as control. The growth and chlorophyll content were measured at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days of treatment periods. Water stress did not significantly affected the plant height except at later stages of experimental periods. No significant difference was also observed in the stem diameter of C. frutescens subjected to different volumes of water. Total number of leaves and leaf area were unaffected at early stages, however both parameters increased significantly at the end of treatment especially in plants treated with 80 and 100 mL of water. Fresh and dry weights of C. frutescens increased significantly in plants treated with 80 and 100 mL of water compared to others. Chlorophyll content was unchanged at earlier stages of experiments. However, the chlorophyll content was reduced drastically at later stages of experiment period. Results reveal that different volumes of water did not significantly affected the growth of C. frutescens. In contrast, the chlorophyll content of C. frutescens was significantly decreased by water stress.
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