GENOTYPIC ANALYSIS AND ASSOCIATION AMONG LEAF AREA, LEAF AREA INDEX AND TOTAL DRY MATTER PRODUCTION OF COTTON UNDER WATER STRESS CONDITION

Drought severely affects plant growth and development with substantial reductions in leaf area, leaf area index and biomass accumulation. The main consequences of drought in crop plants are reduced rate of cell division and expansion, leaf size, stem elongation, plant water and nutrient relations with diminished crop productivity. Adequate soil moisture is essential for successful crop production. Water stress and other abiotic stresses can dramatically limit plant growth and productivity. The growth parameters such as leaf area, leaf area index and total dry matter production were significantly affected by drought stress.Water-use efficiency (WUE) is a key factor determining plant productivity under limited water supply. The aim of the present study was to understand the effect of water stresson leafarea, leaf area index and total dry matter production of cotton genotypes.The experiment was conducted by adopting Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised of water stress imposed at vegetative, squaring and boll development stages of crop growth.