Characterizing drought-resilient cotton genotypes through morpho-physiological and biochemical traits at flowering stage.

ABSTRACT: Drought is a major abiotic stressor significantly reducing global crop productivity by disrupting key morpho-physiological and biochemical processes, including stomatal conductance, photosynthetic efficiency, and water use dynamics. This study systematically assessed the effects of water scarcity on fifty genetically diverse cotton genotypes under three different conditions: normal field capacity (100% FC, monitored by soil moisture weight), moderate drought stress (60% FC), and severe drought stress (40% FC) during the flowering stage, a critical period for crop yield. Key morphological (shoot length, root length, biomass), physiological (relative water content, stomatal conductance), and biochemical traits (antioxidant enzyme activity, oxidative stress markers) were evaluated across all

SUBMITTER: Shani MY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12538884 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature