Physiological and biochemical responses of five nerica rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) to water deficit at vegetative and reproductive stage
to evaluate the responses of five NERICA varieties (NERICA1, NERICA 2, NERICA 3, NERICA 4 and NERICA 5) to water deficit The treatments were; T1 Control, T2-water deficit at vegetative stage after 30-50 days after planting; T3-water deficit at reproductive stage after 51-71 days after planting. Water deficit caused a significant reduction in physiological parameters both at vegetative stage and at reproductive stage. However, Growth parameters i.e. plant height, root length and plant dry weight were affected more by water deficit imposed at the vegetative stage as compared to water deficit imposed at the reproductive stage while chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content and protein content were affected more by water deficit imposed at reproductive stage