Journal of Agronomy and Field Innovations

Background: Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important leguminous crop cultivated in the rain-fed agriculture systems where yield stabilization is hindered by moisture scarcity.
Objective: The purpose of this work was to measure osmoprotectant accumulation and their role in enhancing membrane stability of lentil varieties subjected to moisture stress.
Methods: The experimental plants consisted of two lentil varieties, grown under pot conditions in well-watered (100% field capacity) and moisture-stress (40% field capacity) conditions. The following indices were measured: relative water content (RWC); membrane stability index (MSI); electrolyte leakage (EL); proline; glycine betaine; soluble sugars; total soluble proteins; malonaldialdehyde (MDA); hydrogen peroxide; antioxidant enzyme activity. All data were processed using ANOVA and correlation statistics.
Results: Moisture stress reduced the RWC and MSI, and increased EL, MDA, and osmoprotectants amount. The accumulation of osmoprotectants was positively correlated with the MSI and antioxidant enzyme activity and negatively correlated with EL, indicating osmotic and antioxidant impact.
Conclusion: The accumulation of osmoprotectants is an important factor in membrane stabilization under drought, which can be used for identification of drought-resistant lentil varieties and developing drought-proof breeding.