Water Stress Affects Plant Relative Water Content, Soluble Protein, Total Chlorophyll Content and Yield of Ratoon Banana

Abstract

Twelve cultivars of banana plants were grown in field conditions and were studied under two irrigation regimes under ratoon season in order to evaluate the relative water content, soluble protein content, total chlorophyll content, and yield changes induced by water deficit. Irrigation was applied when soil water potential reached 80 percent ASM for the wet treatments and 50 percent ASM for the stressed treatment plots. The ASM was calculated based on the soil moisture release curve. The soil moisture content was measured by using pressure plate membrane apparatus. In the cultivars and hybrids of Karpuravalli, Karpuravalli x Pisang Jajee, Saba, and Sannachenkathali, the RWC was reduced in water-stressed leaves with 8 percent over control, which could have accounted for the decreased soluble protein, total chlorophyll content, and yield in the percent reduction of 9 and 8 than the other cultivars and hybrids. The highest reduction of 24 percent in RWC leads to 19 and 18 percent reductions in soluble protein and chlorophyll content due to water deficit were registered by the cultivars and hybrid of Matti, Pisang Jajee x Matti, Matti x Anaikomban and Anaikomban x Pisang Jajee leads to reduce the yield.