| By controlling the water content (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) of matrix using automatic irrigation
system, the leaf characteristics responses of three introduced peppers (i.e. Jalapeno Early Hot, Portugal Hot and Sweet
banana) to drought stress were studied. The results showed that, compared with the control (25% water content), the leaf
area, chlorophyll SPAD, relative water content and water potential of Jalapeno Early Hot treated with 5% water content
were decreased by 9.79%, 10.76%, 8.03% and 79.45% respectively, and those for Sweet Banana were decreased by
18.05%, 13.51%, 17.70% and 149.23% respectively. Meanwhile, the root dry mass, root crown ratio and proline content
increased by 19.43%, 26.82%, 201.85% respectively for Jalapeno Early Hot and 28.79%, 33.17%, 115.19% for Sweet
Banana. The same trend was observed for Portugal Hot. These results indicate that pepper adapts to drought stress via
adjusting its leaf characteristics. Accordingly, Jalapeno Early Hot showed the highest drought-resistance ability, followed
by Portugal Hot and Sweet banana. |
