Stomatal clustering pattern in Arachis hypogaea L. under water deficit stress

Abstract

Soil health, water use, crop yield and biodiversity are directly affected by climate change and drought is one of the most severe consequences of climate change. Accordingly, plants undergo physiological manipulations, such as differential stomatal behaviour which ultimately affect the water use efficiency (WUE), role of various chemicals on adaxial stomatal behaviour, gaseous exchange capacity and yield. Here, we investigated these aspects in groundnut varieties of Spanish bunch type suitable for summer cultivation. Type A clustering of stomata (two stomata in direct contact laterally without intervening epidermal cells between neighbouring guard cells) was recorded accounting 3.3% in well-watered plants which increased due to water deficit (WD) treatments. Foliar application of ethrel and 8-HQ increased clustering of stomata by 45 and 47%, respectively under WD stress. Based on our study, groundnut is now included in group of terrestrial plants which showed type A stomatal clustering.