IMPACTS OF DROUGHT STRESS ON GROWTH, PROTEIN, PROLINE, PIGMENT CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L. VAR. BRRI DHAN-24)

Abstract

One of the major problems associated with rice cultivation and production is
the deficiency of water resources. In here the effect of drought stress on growth,
protein-, proline-, pigment contents and antioxidant enzymes activities in rice
var. BRRI Dhan-24 was determined and analyzed under drought and wellwatered
condition. Drought stress caused the decrease of growth and pigment
contents - chlorophyll-a, b, a/b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids content of
leaves of rice plants. On the other hand, the accumulation of protein, proline
contents and antioxidant enzymes activities was increased under drought stress.
It may be suggested that antioxidant enzymes activities and proline accumulation
were associated with the growth of the plant and consequently with the
mechanisms of drought tolerance in rice.