Evaluation of Agro-Physiological Traits of Bean Genotypes Under Drought Stress and Non-Stress Conditions at Reproductive Stage

In order to evaluate eight bean genotypes for drought tolerance, an experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Iran in 2014. Drought stress was applied by cutting irrigation for two week at pod filling stage. Results of analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes in terms of stomata resistance, number of pods per plant,weight of dry pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, plant dry weight, 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant, biological yield per plant and leaf area index at 1% and harvest index at 5% probability levels. Weight of dry pods per plant had the highest correlation with seed yield (r = 0.89). In regression analysis for seed yield, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, leaf area index and weight of dry pods per plant as effective traits were entered into the model. Path analysis for seed yield showed that number of seeds per pod, weight of dry pods per plant,100 seed weight and leaf area index had the maximum influence on the seed yield, respectively. The maximum Crop Growth Rate (CGR) and maximum Relative Growth Rate (RGR) in drought stress and non-stress conditions were recorded in Goli cultivar. According to GMP, MP, STI, and HARM indices, Goli cultivar was evaluated as the most tolerant genotype.