Evaluation of Dry Matter, Water Relationships and Osmotic Adjustment in Two Pasture Annual Medic Genotypes (Medicago laciniata(L.) Mill) under Drought Stress

In order to study the yield and water relations and osmotic adjustment in sensitive and tolerant genotypes of cutleaf medic (Medicago laciniata(L.) Mill) under drought stress, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in 2004, using a factorial arrangement in RCBD with three replications. Two genotypes of cutleaf medic, were treated in four levels of water stress include -0.1, -0.2, -1 MPa as low, medium and high stress levels respectively and Field Capacity (FC = -0.03 MPa). Results indicated that tolerant genotype had a significant superiority to sensitive genotype in most studied characteristics such as yield, Shoot and Root dry matter, Relative Water Content (RWC), Water Potential (ψw), Osmotic Potential (ψs), Turgor Potential (ψt) and Osmotic Adjustment during medium and high water stress levels. This experiment showed that tolerant genotype had important traits; that might be possible to use these characteristics for selection of tolerant medics and recognition of mechanisms of drought resistance.