Not AvailableMungbean is a relatively drought tolerant leguminous
crop with a short life cycle. Using leaf water loss
(LWL) as a screen for drought tolerance, two mungbean
genotypes exhibiting more than two–fold variation in leaf
water loss were explored for the genetic variation in their
physiological and molecular responses to drought. Efficient
stomatal regulation together with better photosynthetic
capacity constituted an important trait combination for
drought adaptation in water saving low LWL genotype.
The stomatal closure under drought was accompanied with
a concomitant down-regulation of farnesyl transferase
gene. However, cooler canopy temperature, a well branched
root system coupled with a relatively higher proline
accumulation in water spending high LWL genotype constituted
another set of adaptive traits operating when
exposed to deficit soil moisture conditions. We report
drought induced down-regulation of proline dehydrogenase
and the presence of 118 base pair intron in this gene. The
high seed yield of low LWL genotype despite a hotter
canopy might be attributed to higher net assimilation and
quantum yield recorded under drought in this genotype.
Thus, these interlinked features contribute to adaptive
mechanisms of mungbeans which is widely grown in harsh
environments exposed to drought and high temperatures.Not Availabl
