Influence of Drought Stress on Cytological Behavior of Green Manure Crop Sesbania cannabina Poir.

Abstract

Among the most important environmental stresses, drought is the most significant stress affecting crop production. Effects of drought stress on the morphological parameters of plants are well studied and understood, but studies on the effect of drought stress on the chromosomal biology of plants are scarce. Therefore, the present study was conducted to study the effect of drought stress on the chromosomal biology of the drought-resistant green manure crop Sesbania cannabina. The present experimentation was conducted at the Department of Botany, University of Allahabad. Dry and healthy seeds of Sesbania cannabina variety ND-1 were soaked in distilled water and used for sowing in experimental pots to raise the population. After 15 days, seedlings were exposed to drought stress for different time durations (viz., 10, 15 and 20 days). On the onset of budding, young floral buds were fixed in carnoy's fixative and were used for cytological studies. Cytological studies clearly showed the chromotoxic behaviour of drought stress.