Effects of foliar application of methanol on physiological characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under drought stress

In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of methanol on some physiological characteristics of chickpea under drought stress, an experiment was conducted as a factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications in 2011 at the Recearch center of plant for Sciences in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The first factor was different levels of methanol including, 0 (control), 20, 25, 30, 35 volumetric percentage (v/v), which were used as foliar applications at three times during growth season of chickpea, with 10 days intervals. Second factor was drought stress condition in two levels 25 and 100 percent of field capacity. Results showed that there was significant difference (P 0.01) between methanol levels concentrations regarding to chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, total chlorophyll content, assimilation CO2, relative water content, chlorophyll feluorecence (Fv\Fm) and membrane stability coefficient. Spraying with 30% volume level significantly increased chlorophyll a and b content, assimilation CO2 and relative water content compared to control. There was no significant difference on chlorophyll feluorecence (Fv\Fm) between methanol levels, but there was significant increase compared to control. Effects of drought and methanol were not significant differences on carotenoid and relative water content but on the chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll feluorecence (Fv\Fm), interacellular CO2 and membrane stability coefficient were significant (P 0.05).