Effect of Drought on Chlorophyll and Abscissic Acid (ABA) in Selected Rice Accessions in Nigeria

Abstract

Drought is one of the main problems of rice cultivation and production especially
during period of low rainfall which affect the vegetative growth rate and yield.
This study was aimed to evaluate chlorophyll, Abscissic acid of the selected rice
accessions of Nigeria. The research was conducted between March and May
2017 in the Biological Garden of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. A total
of nine samples of rice were procured. Rice accessions were sown in nursery
bed, after germination, the seedlings were selected and transferred to plastic
pot consisting garden soil. This research was laid under Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) and each treatments were replicated three times. The
effects of drought stress on chlorophyll and Abscissic acid content of the rice
accessions were evaluated using Biochemical procedures on
spectrophotometer. For cholorophyll and Abscissic acid contents, the
supernatant were read at 663, 646 and 550 nm wave length respectively. The
results on chlorophyll content indicated that, there is no significant effect
between the groups of the rice accessions studied. Wita-4 had the highest
content of chlorophyll in both stressed and unstressed group, the lowest
chlorophyll content was recorded Bijinbira. Results of Absciisic acid content
revealed that there is no significant difference between the groups, Faro-44 had
the highest content of Abscissic acid, the lowest content was recorded in Beru.
It has been concluded that, accessions studied had higher chlorophyll and
Abscissic acid contents, this showed that, the accessions are tolerant to drought
and is recommended for planting in areas prone to drought.