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Pak. J. Bot., 47(5): 1621-1627, 2015.

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INVESTIGATION  OF  DROUGHT  STRESS  IN  PEPINO (SOLANUM MURICATUM AIT. CV. MISKI) LEAVES

SEVCAN DUMAN¹ AND AYSEL SIVACI^2*

Abstract: In this study, the effects of drought stress on pepino seedlings (Solanum muricatum cv. Miski) under natural greenhouse conditions were examined. The control plants were watered at field capacity, and the stress group was not watered. Samples were collected on the 6^th, 12^th, 24^th and 36^th days from the leaves of S. muricatum seedlings that, were exposed to drought stress. The relative water content, the total phenolic compounds, and the malondialdehyde, total photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), and proline contents in these samples were determined. Depending on drought stress, the relative water content, the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents, and the total chlorophylls were found to be lower in the stress group compared with the control group. In contrast, the total phenolic compounds (24^th and 36^th days) and the proline (12^th, 24^th and 36^th days) levels increased significantly compared with the control group. In addition, a significant increase in the malondialdehyde contents was obtained on the 36^th day in the stress group compared with the control group. Such studies may be important for evaluation of metabolic changes in pepino under the drought stress.

Key words: Drought stress, Malondialdehyde, Phenolic compounds, Photosynthetic pigments, Proline, Solanum muricatum Ait.

¹Graduate School of Sciences, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey

²Department of Biology, Arts and Science Faculty, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey

*Corresponding author’s e-mail:  asivaci@gmail.com; Tel: (416)2231775; Fax: +90 (416)2231774