Biochemical Responses of Some Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes to Drought Stress

In this study, biochemical responses of three common bean genotypes were investigated under three levels of water deficit (75, 50 and 25% FC) at pre- flowering stage. The results showed different effects of drought stress on photosynthetic pigments, total carotenoids, Electrolyte Leakage (EL), Relative Water Content (RWC), lipoxygenase enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation (MDA), total soluble proteins, proline and Abscisic Acid (ABA) content in K-S-31167, GE-288 and NAZ genotypes. Our results showed different patterns in antioxidant enzymes activity including Catalase (CAT), Guaicol PerOxidase (GPOX) and Ascorbate PerOxidase (APX) in K-S-31167 as drought tolerant, GE-288 and NAZ as semi tolerant and sensitive genotypes, respectively. Results showed that drought stress response in common beans is highly genotype dependent.