EFFECT OF PROLINE AND ABSCISIC ACID ON THE GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF FABA BEAN UNDER WATER STRESS

Water stress is a serious threat to the agricultural production. Therefore, the present experiment was aimed to study the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and/or proline (Pro) on the performance of faba bean under water stress condition. Under water deficit condition, all parameters [plant height and root length, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, total soluble carbohydrates (TSC), chlorophyll (Chl) a and b, and activity of peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)] of faba beans were strongly depressed, except malondialdehyde (MDA) and Pro contents. On the other hand, application of ABA and Pro alone as well as in combination improved all growth characteristics by improving Pro, TSC, photosynthetic pigments, CAT and POD. These results indicate that application of ABA and Pro together was more effective, and helped the plant to restore the altered physiological process induced by water stress.