Physiological Response Of Banana (Musa Spp.) Genotypes To Flooding Stress At Vegetative Stage

Cauvery Delta zone has a total geographical area of 14.47 lakh ha. The average rainfall of Cauvery Delta zone is 1268.38mm with a range of 544.7mm to 2098mm. However, the Cauvery Delta zone has periodically experienced with intermittent flood during the monsoon, particularly North East monsoon. Inundation of water in banana growing area of Cauvery Delta zone is very common that affects growth, yield and physiological function of banana crop. In the present investigation work on “Physiological response of banana (Musa spp.) genotypes to flooding stress at vegetative stage” was carried out at Horticultural Research Block, Department of Horticulture, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur during the period of 2024-2025. The pot culture experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FCRD) with two factors and it was replicated twice. The planting time of season I is January, 2024 and season II is July, 2024 and the flooding treatment was given initial vegetative stage of 5th month after planting of suckers for Season –I (June, 2024) and Season- II (November, 2024) with 5cm soil flooding was maintained in each treatment combinations. The following physiological parameters viz., leaf area (cm2), leaf area index, chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’ content, total chlorophyll content (mg/g), chlorophyll stability index, relative water content and proline content (µg/mg) were recorded in before flooding, at the time of flooding and 15 days after flooding and the statistical analysis of pooled mean of both season 5th month after flooding work done. In this present study results showed that, among the six genotypes screened the genotype Karpooravalli (V5) recorded highest leaf area (cm2), leaf area index, chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’ content, total chlorophyll content (mg/g), chlorophyll stability index and proline content (µg/mg) was notice during before flooded condition, 96hrs after flooded condition and 15 days after flooded condition. It was followed by Monthan (V6) respectively.