Differential characterization of physiological and biochemical responses during drought stress in finger millet varieties

Abstract Drought is the most perilous abiotic stress that affects finger millet growth and productivity worldwide. For the successful production of finger millet, selection of drought tolerant varieties is necessary and critical stages under drought stress, germination and early seedling growth, ought to be fully understood. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of six finger millet varieties (GBK043137, GBK043128, GBK043124, GBK043122, GBK043094 and GBK043050) under mannitol-induced drought stress. Seeds were germinated on sterile soil and irrigated with various concentrations of mannitol (200, 400 and 600 mM) for two weeks. Comparative analysis in terms of relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll, proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measured the physiological and biochemical characteristics of drought stress. The results showed that increased level of drought stress seriously decreased germination and early seedling growth of finger millet varieties. However, root growth was increased. In addition, exposition to drought stress triggered a significant decrease in relative water content and chlorophyll content reduction the biochemical parameters assay showed less reduction of relative water content. Furthermore, oxidative damage indicating parameters such as proline concentration and MDA content increased. Varieties GBK043137 and GBK043094 were less affected by drought as shown by significant change in the physiological parameters. Our findings reveal the difference and linkage between the physiological responses of finger millet to drought and are vital for breeding and selection of drought tolerant varieties of finger millet. Further investigations on genomic and molecular to deeply insight the detail mechanisms of drought tolerance in finger millet need to explored.