Physiological responses of cool-season grain legumes to drought in the low rainfall Mediterranean environment of South-Western Australia

Physiological responses of cool-season grain legumes to drought in the low rainfall Mediterranean environment of South-Western Australia

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This paper discusses the effects of water deficits on the growth, yield, water relations and gas exchange of 6 species of grain legume, namely albus lupin (Lupinus albus cv. Kiev mutant), chickpea, faba bean (cv. Fiord), field pea (cv. Dundale), grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) and lentil (cv. Digger), during the period of terminal drought when growing-season rainfall was well below average in 1994 in south-western Australia, Australia. The results demonstrated a remarkably similar physiological response among the 6 grain legume species when subjected to drought. Similar decreases of photosynthesis with decrease in leaf water potential in all 6 species were observed. There was little correlation between net photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area and water relation characteristics in the 6 species, and their ability to maintain a specific level of yield under drought. It is concluded that yield under drought conditions is strongly correlated with early vigour and early pod set which enables the plants to escape drought.

Publication Title

Management of agricultural drought agronomic and genetic options

Publication Date

2003

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Publisher

Science Publishers Inc

City

Enfield

Disciplines

Agronomy and Crop Sciences

Physiological responses of cool-season grain legumes to drought in the low rainfall Mediterranean environment of South-Western Australia

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