Evaluation of Methanol role in reducing the negative effects of water deficit stress in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Water deficiency is an important factor for plant growth in arid environments. Foliar application of methanol in C3 plants is believed to be more important in water stress tolerance. In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of methanol on photosynthetic features, chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content of lentil under water deficit stress, a factorial experiment in completely randomized design was conducted with three replications. Methanol foliar application factor had 5 levels including control (without foliar application), 5, 15, 25 and 35 volumetric percentage (v/v). Foliar application was applied 3 times during the growing season (seedling, flowering and podding) at 10-days intervals. Water deficit factors were included severe water stress (25% of field capacity), moderate water stress (75% of field capacity) and non water stress (100% field capacity). The results of methanol and water stress interaction showed that in non water stress condition, methanol levels at the seedling, flowering and podding stage significantly enhanced in all traits except transpiration rate compared with the control level. Methanol levels at three stages significantly decreased the transpiration rate compared with the control. In modrate and severe water stress treatments at seedling stage, methanol levels had significant effect regarding photosynthetic features but at flowering and podding stages, the application of methanol except some features did not reduce the negative effects of water stress.