The effect of induced drought stress on seedling vigour and antioxidant enzymes in wild and cultivated Oryza species

Abstract

The study was conducted by using two cultivated and four wild genotypes of the Oryza species. The genotypes were analyzed for the seed quality parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities during the polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced water stress and no stress conditions. All the Oryza species except O. sativa among the studied genotypes performed well during the induced water stress. O. glumaepatula and O. barthii showed better seed quality parameters in the stress condition. The reduction in the α-amylase activity was also found to be lower in the wild genotypes. There was a significant rise in the antioxidant enzymes in all the genotypes except O. sativa. So these wild Oryza genotypes along with O. glaberrima can be utilized for the improvement of drought tolerance in O. sativa.