Abscisic Acid and Glycine Betaine Mediated Tolerance Mechanisms under Drought Stress and Recovery in Axonopus compressus: A New Insight

Changing climatic scenarios affect plant growth and consequences are more malicious in drought conditions. This study was performed for better understanding of tolerance mechanisms under prevailing drought stress and succeeding recovery in Axonopus compressus by exogenously applied abscisic acid (ABA) and glycine betaine (GB). Three A. compressus accessions (A-38, A-58 and A-59) were subjected to well-watered (100% field capacity) and drought (40% field capacity) conditions. Two weeks later, plants were recovered from drought by re-watering. Water (control), GB, ABA and their combination were foliar applied on plants under drought twice a week until recovery. Drought stress decreased photosynthetic pigments and increased reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, osmolytes and antioxidants in all accessions of A. compressus. Nonetheless, exogenous ABA and GB alone or in combination improved drought tolerance in all accessions which was maintained even after recovery. Maximum decrease in hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, and increase in soluble sugars, proteins, proline, phenolics and chlorophyll contents, and superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase activity was recorded when GB was applied alone under drought. Order of improvement in drought tolerance among accessions was A-58 > A-59 > A-38. In conclusion, improved drought tolerance mechanisms by ABA and GB in A. compressus were retained even after recovery.