CHANCHAL GARG*, KIRPA RAM, ASHA SHARMA1 AND MANOJ KUMAR
Department of Botany, Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak-124 021 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : chanchu518@gmail.com; Mobile : 9416206065)
(Received : January 24, 2019; Accepted : March 28, 2019)
ABSTRACT
Climate change and severe water condition drastically reduced the crop growth and yield. The purpose of
this research was to determine the effect of induced water stress on antioxidant activity of two capsicum
genotypes. Two chilli genotypes (PSB and PJ) were grown under control (all recommended irrigations were
given) and drought conditions (induced by the different concentrations of mannitol; 100, 150, 200 and
250 mM) in screen house at the experimental area of MD University, Rohtak. The experiments were laid
out using CRD with three replications. A strong correlation was observed between antioxidants and water
stress. All treatments increased antioxidant substances comparing to normal and stressed plants. As the
intensity of water stress increased high content of proline, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation content
(in terms of MDA) and Glutathione-S-transferase were observed in both the genotypes. Genotype PSB in
the present study showed better antioxidant activity and growth under both normal and drought conditions.
Key words :Mannitol, SOD, glutathione-S-transferase, proline, drought