EFFECT OF MANNITOL AND PEG INDUCED WATER STRESS ON SEEDLINGS GROWTH OF BROAD BEAN (VICIA FABA L.)

Drought is one of the abiotic stress that affecting on plants growth and productivity. This study was conducted to examine the effects of water stress on seedlings growth of two varieties, luzdeotono (Spanish) and local variety of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) by using mannitol (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) and PEG-4000 (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%). The results showed that root length, protein content decreased with increasing mannitol and PEG-4000 concentrations, whereas proline content, dry weight and enzymes activities of catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), increased with increasing of mannitol and PEG-4000 concentrations compared to the control (distilled water), but the local variety had a higher in the studied traits and it was considered more tolerant than luzdeotono to drought stress.