Effect of salt and drought stress on antioxidant enzymes activities and SOD isoenzymes of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch)

The effects of salinity and drought on the antioxidative system (SOD, POD, CAT) were studied in liquorice seedlings (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch). The results showed that both salt and drought stresses could induce oxidative stress, as indicated by the increase level of lipid peroxidation. The activities of SOD and POD were up-regulated by salt and drought stress, while CAT activity decreased. An additional MnSOD isoenzyme was detected in liquorice subjected to 2%NaCl stress. The data also showed that although the activity of SOD was differentially influenced by drought and salinity, the changes of antioxidant enzyme activities subjected to drought stress follow a pattern similar to that subjected to salt stress, indicating that similar defensive systems might be involved in the oxidative stress injury in liquorice.     

CO2浓度升高对干旱胁迫下小麦光合作用和抗氧化酶活性的影响

在CO₂浓度分别为350μmol·mol^-1和倍增浓度(700μmol·mol^-1)的两个开顶式生长室内,研究了干旱胁迫下小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)光合作用和抗氧化酶活性的变化.结果表明,CO₂浓度升高显著提高了小麦的净光合速率,降低了蒸腾速率,提高了气孔阻力和水分利用效率.倍增CO₂浓度明显提高了SOD、POD及CAT酶活性,增强了小麦的抗氧化保护能力和抗旱性.     

CO_2浓度升高对干旱胁迫下小麦光合作用和抗氧化酶活性的影响

在CO2 浓度分别为 35 0 μmol·mol-1和倍增浓度 (70 0 μmol·mol-1)的两个开顶式生长室内 ,研究了干旱胁迫下小麦 (TriticumaestivumL .)光合作用和抗氧化酶活性的变化 .结果表明 ,CO2 浓度升高显著提高了小麦的净光合速率 ,降低了蒸腾速率 ,提高了气孔阻力和水分利用效率 .倍增CO2 浓度明显提高了SOD、POD及CAT酶活性 ,增强了小麦的抗氧化保护能力和抗旱性 .     

CO2浓度升高对干旱胁迫下小麦光合作用和抗氧化酶活性的影响

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Probing the responses of barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) by chlorophyll a fluorescence OLKJIP under drought stress and re-watering

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of drought and re-watering on 10 varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) originating from Morocco. Five varieties obtained from the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA) of Morocco and five landraces (local varieties defined by high stress tolerance, high yield stability, an intermediate yield and low-input demand) collected at five localities in the south of Morocco were used in the present study. After 2 weeks of growth, drought stress was initiated by withholding water for 2 weeks followed by 1 week of re-watering. The polyphasic OJIP fluorescence transient was used to evaluate photosystem II (PSII) criteria at the end of the first week of drought stress (moderate drought), at the end of the second week (severe drought) and the end of the recovery phase. Drought and re-watering had little effect on the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry φ_Po(=F_V/F_M). The photosynthetic performance index (PI) is the product of an antenna, reaction center and electron transport dependent parameter. It revealed differences between varieties as a function of drought and re-watering. For the screening for drought stress tolerance, changes in the PI during a 2-week drought stress treatment were analysed and a new parameter was defined: the drought factor index (DFI) = log(PI_week 1/PI_control) + 2 log(PI_week 2/PI_control). The DFI of the tested varieties correlated with their drought tolerance. Another parameter that was analysed was the relative water content. It decreased during the drought stress treatment varying between 61% and 78.2% at the end of the drought period. During the subsequent recovery period, it increased in a species-dependent manner (65.1–94.1%). A third parameter studied were changes in the initial fluorescence rise. The fluorescence rise during the first 300 μs (L-band) can give information on the energetic connectivity between PSII units whereas changes in the rise during the first 2 ms (K-band) offer information on developing limitations on the donor side of PSII. Changes in respectively the L and K-bands of the fluorescence transients OJIP were shown to have predictive value with respect to the vitality of leaves and the tolerance of the varieties to drought stress.     

QTLs affecting morph-physiological traits related to drought tolerance detected in overlapping introgression lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Plant photosynthetic traits such as net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomata conductance (g_s), transpiration rate (T_r), and intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), are known to relate to drought tolerance in plants, but the genetic basis of these traits remains largely uncharacterized because of the difficulty in phenotyping physiological traits in a large mapping population. In this study, a set of 55 overlapping introgression lines (ILs) in the Teqing (indica) background were used to genetically dissect several morph-physiological traits and their relationship with grain yield under water stress and non-stress conditions. These traits included specific leaf weight (SLW), chlorophyll content (CC), leaf stomata frequency (SF), P_n, g_s, T_r, and C_i. A total of 40 QTLs affecting the measured traits were identified and mapped to 21 genomic regions in the rice genome. Clustered QTLs affecting P_n, g_s, T_r, and C_i in the same genomic regions suggest common genetic bases for the physiological traits. Low or no phenotypic correlations between leaf morphological traits and photosynthetic traits and between morph-physiological traits and grain yield (GY) appeared to be due to inconsistence in QTL effect for clustered QTLs, unlinked QTLs affecting different traits, and to possible epistasis that could not be adequately addressed in this study. Our results indicate that improving drought tolerant (DT) of rice by selecting any single secondary traits is not expected to be effective and the identified QTLs for GY and related morph-physiological traits should be carefully confirmed before to be used for improving DT in rice by MAS.     

Contribution of trehalose biosynthetic pathway to drought stress tolerance of Capparis ovata Desf

Trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic pathway are important contributors and regulators of stress responses in plants. Among recent findings for trehalose and its metabolism, the role of signalling in the regulation of growth and development and its potential for use as a storage energy source can be listed. The xerophytic plant Capparis ovata (caper) is well adapted to drought and high temperature stress in arid and semi‐arid regions of the Mediterranean. The contribution of trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic pathway to drought stress responses and tolerance in C. ovata are not known. We investigated the effects of PEG‐mediated drought stress in caper plants and analysed physiological parameters and trehalose biosynthetic pathway components, trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase (TPS), trehalose‐6‐phosphate phosphatase (TPP), trehalase activity, trehalose and proline content in drought stress‐treated and untreated plants. Our results indicated that trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic pathway contributed to drought stress tolerance of C. ovata. Overall growth and leaf water status were not dramatically affected by drought, as both high relative growth rate and relative water content were recorded even after 14 days of drought stress. Trehalose accumulation increased in parallel to induced TPS and TPP activities and decreased trehalase activity in caper plants on day 14. Constitutive trehalose levels were 28.75 to 74.75 μg·g·FW^?1, and drought stress significantly induced trehalose accumulation (385.25 μg·g·FW^?1 on day 14) in leaves of caper. On day 14 of drought, proline levels were lower than on day 7. Under drought stress the discrepancy between trehalose and proline accumulation trends might result from the mode of action of these osmoprotectant molecules in C. ovata.     

Adaptive responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus przewalskii</Emphasis> to drought stress and SNP application

In this study we used the cuttings of Populus przewalskii Maximowicz as experimental material and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as nitric oxide (NO) donor to determine the physiological and biochemical responses to drought stress and the effect of NO on drought tolerance in woody plants. The results indicated that drought stress not only significantly decreased biomass production, but also significantly increased hydrogen peroxide content and caused oxidative stress to lipids and proteins assessed by the increase in malondialdehyde and total carbonyl contents, respectively. The cuttings of P. przewalskii accumulated many amino acids for osmotic adjustment to lower water potential, and activated the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase to maintain the balance of generation and quenching of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, exogenous SNP application significantly heightened the growth performance of P. przewalskii cuttings under drought treatment by promotion of proline accumulation and activation of antioxidant enzyme activities, while under well-watered treatment the effect of SNP application was very little.     

Changes in antioxidants and cell damage in heterotrophic maize seedlings differing in drought sensitivity after exposure to short-term osmotic stress

Seedlings of two cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) differing in their drought sensitivity were exposed to osmotic stress (0.3 M sorbitol, −1.4 MPa) for 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h during their heterotrophic stage of development. Alterations in their antioxidant pools combined with the activities of enzymes involved in defence against oxidative stress were investigated. Significant activation of antioxidative defence mechanisms correlated with drought-induced oxidative stress tolerance, and this phenomenon was shown to be characteristic of the drought-tolerant cv. Nova. Activities of some ROS-scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were already enhanced significantly 4 h after the start of drought exposure in the drought-tolerant cv. Nova. Furthermore, a significant increase in the ascorbate pool was observed in this cultivar. On the other hand, in the drought-sensitive cv. Ankora only SOD and POD activities and the thiol pool were increased. No changes in APX activity or the level of ascorbate were recorded in cv. Ankora. Studies of root cell viability indicated that marked oxidative damage appeared only in cv. Ankora. These results, together with our previous observations, confirmed the higher ability of cv. Nova to tolerate drought stress and cope effectively with oxidative damage.     

Chitosan enhances leaf membrane stability and antioxidant enzyme activities in apple seedlings under drought stress

Chitosan is a cationic marine polysaccharide with unique bioactive properties that make it an effective scavenger of reactive oxygen species. Chitosan application has been suggested as an aid for reducing oxidative injury caused by drought stress in crop plants. In order to confirm the antioxidant effects of exogenous chitosan, cell membrane stability and antioxidant enzyme activities were analyzed in leaves of apple seedlings placed under a period of drought stress. Pretreatment of apple seedling leaves with chitosan solution (20, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg l⁻¹) prior to drought stress significantly decreased electrolyte leakage and the production of malondialdehyde in the leaves, while increasing antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase), following imposition of drought stress conditions. An optimum response was obtained at a chitosan concentration of 100 mg l⁻¹. When apple seedlings were pretreated with 100 mg l⁻¹ of chitosan, cell membrane stability and antioxidant enzyme activities were enhanced for 21 days of drought treatment. Following restoration of moisture and a repeated drought stress, similar results were obtained on day 35. It is proposed that chitosan may act as an exogenous antioxidant that enhances resistance to oxidative stress during drought.     

Comparison of the physiological responses of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna unguiculata cultivars when submitted to drought conditions

Three cultivars differing in their susceptibility to water stress were compared—Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Carioca (susceptible), Vigna unguiculata cv. IT83D (intermediately tolerant) and V. unguiculata cv. EPACE-1 (tolerant)—during an imposed water stress treatment. Variation in leaf gas exchange (i.e. assimilation and stomatal conductance) and leaf relative water content in response to progressive substrate water depletion were investigated. To verify the extent of the injury caused by the drought treatment, leaf gas exchange was measured after rehydration. In the three cultivars, stomatal conductance declined before leaf relative water content was affected. P. vulgaris showed the largest decrease in the rate of stomatal conductance with decreasing substrate water content compared to both V. unguiculata cultivars. Photosynthetic assimilation rates were largely dependent on stomatal aperture, but there was evidence of the participation of non-stomatal factors in the reduction of CO₂ fixation. The response of leaf gas exchange parameters to severe water stress conditions differed significantly between P. vulgaris and V. unguiculata cultivars. After rehydration, cultivars can be characterised according to the degree of injury induced by the drought treatment: V. unguiculata cv. EPACE-1 as the least affected, V. unguiculata cv. IT83D slightly affected and P. vulgaris cv. Carioca strongly affected. Similar ranking was obtained with experiments previously performed at a cellular and subcellular level. Our results confirm the utility of physiological parameters as early screening tools for drought resistance in bean cultivars.     

沙地云杉生态型对干旱胁迫的生理生态响应

采用干旱胁迫处理不同生态型沙地云杉幼苗,对其主干高生长、丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸和叶绿素含量进行了测定．结果表明,沙地云杉幼苗高生长明显受到干旱胁迫的抑制,绿果型沙地云杉在水分条件良好的情况下,高生长迅速,明显高于紫果型沙地云杉．随着干旱胁迫强度的增强,其高生长受抑制的程度高于紫果型沙地云杉．红果型沙地云杉处于二者之间．同时干旱胁迫也影响沙地云杉生长进程,使得其封顶时间提前一个多月．MDA含量无论在叶还是根中呈上升趋势,只是在土壤含水量在10％左右出现轻度胁迫时略有下降;叶片中MDA含量明显高于根中;从不同生态型来看,紫果型沙地云杉体内MDA含量高,绿果型低且具有较大的变化幅度．脯氨酸含量随干旱胁迫强度增加而增加;绿果型沙地云杉根部脯氨酸含量在处理4之前高于另外两种生态型．叶绿素的变化规律,紫果型和红果型沙地云杉基本相同,只是红果型含量略微低于紫果型．其叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素含量都是开始逐渐升高;随着胁迫强度增加,叶绿素含量下降;绿果型沙地云杉叶绿素含量总体上都呈下降趋势,只有叶绿素b含量在胁迫初期有所增加．从叶绿素a／b值出现下降趋势,但不同生态型表现不一样．绿果型沙地云杉由最高下降到最低,紫果型沙地云杉下降幅度较小,红果型介于二者之间．表明不同生态型沙地云杉抗旱能力不同,紫果型>红果型>绿果型．     

杠柳幼苗对不同强度干旱胁迫的生长与生理响应

以黄土丘陵区常见灌木杠柳(Periploca sepium Bunge.)的两年生苗木为试验材料,模拟不同程度的土壤干旱环境,研究了土壤干旱对杠柳生长和生理生化特性的影响。结果表明,在3种土壤水分条件下杠柳的耗水和快速生长期均集中在6-8月,与黄土丘陵区雨热期重叠。在干旱胁迫下杠柳生长减慢,生物量累积减小,生物量优先向根系分配,根冠比显著增大。与适宜水分下相比,干旱胁迫下杠柳的水分利用效率随生物量与耗水量减小而显著升高,表明杠柳具有节约型水分利用对策。杠柳在干旱前期和中期丙二醛(MDA)含量下降、膜透性略有增加,干旱末期MDA含量和细胞膜透性与适宜水分相比显著升高。在中度干旱与严重干旱下,杠柳的超氧化物歧化酶与过氧化物保护酶活性持续上升直到试验末期才稍有下降。干旱胁迫对杠柳叶片渗透调节物质含量的影响显著,脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量均随着干旱胁迫程度的加大而显著升高,且随着胁迫时间的延长,脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量一直保持上升趋势;可溶性蛋白含量在前期急剧上升,中、后期下降,但含量一直高于适宜水分处理。本研究表明,杠柳能够充分利用黄土丘陵区局部雨热资源优势、具备减少地上蒸发面积、增加地下生长、吸收深层土壤水源等御旱策略以及保持较高的抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节能力等生理学耐旱机制,本研究从生长、生理特征上揭示了杠柳在黄土高原植被自然恢复中普遍存在的原因。     

Heterologous expression of the AtDREB1A gene in chrysanthemum increases drought and salt stress tolerance

DNA cassette containing an AtDREB1A cDNA and a nos terminator, driven by a cauliflower mosaic 35S promoter, or a stress-inducible rd29A promoter, was transformed into the ground cover chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum) ‘Fall Color’ genome. Compared with wild type plants, severe growth retardation was observed in 35S:DREB1A plants, but not in rd29A:DREB1A plants. RT-PCR analysis revealed that, under stress conditions, the DREB1A gene was over-expressed constitutively in 35S:DREB1A plants, but was over-expressed inductively in rd29A:DREB1A plants. The transgenic plants exhibited tolerance to drought and salt stress, and the tolerance was significantly stronger in rd29A:DREB1A plants than in 35S:DREB1A plants. Proline content and SOD activity were increased inductively in rd29A:DREB1A plants than in 35S:DREB1A plants under stress conditions. These results indicate that heterologous AtDREB1A can confer drought and salt tolerance in transgenic chrysanthemum, and improvement of the stress tolerance may be related to enhancement of proline content and SOD activity.     

Characterization and early detection of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) stress responses to esca disease by in situ chlorophyll fluorescence and comparison with drought stress

Esca disease, as well as other trunk diseases of grapevine, is an important wood disease that impedes the water transport in plants by clogging the xylem vessels. This type of effect is not detectable for years, due to the long latency time of the disease. In a field experiment, the susceptibility of Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot to esca disease was evaluated by visual assessment of foliar symptoms and by necrosis and white rot indexes. C. sauvignon was highly susceptible and Merlot was tolerant to esca. The characteristics of fast chlorophyll a fluorescence transient were investigated in attached leaves by using the so-called JIP-test. The fluorescence transient was analyzed and plants without visible esca foliar symptoms were compared with those showing symptoms. In C. sauvignon, alteration of the photosynthetic apparatus could be detected 2 months before the appearance of foliar symptoms in autumn. To our knowledge, this is the first report of early detection of esca disease using a nondestructive method. For Merlot, only one JIP-test parameter was affected. However, when both cultivars were compared, the relationship of the performance index (defined by the density of reaction centers (RCs) and by the yields φ_Po and ψ_o; PI_ABS = [RC/ABS][φ_Po/(1 − φ_Po)][ψ_o/(1 − ψ_o)]) versus the calculated rate of the electron transfer [probability that an absorbed photon moves an electron further than $Q_{\text{A}}^{-}$; φ_Eo = φ_Poψ_o = (TR_o/ABS)(ET_o/TR_o) = ET_o/ABS = (1 − F₀/F_M)(1 − V_J)] permitted us to separate the highest performing cultivar Merlot from the susceptible C. sauvignon. Also, the method used allowed us to detect modification of the photosystem II (PS II) performance in greenhouse-grown Riesling × Sylvaner after a drought stress. Finally, the comparison of the fluorescence transients of esca-affected and drought-stressed grapevines provided information on the differentiated functional-behavior patterns of PS II for the two stress types. These results suggest that esca infection cannot simply be interpreted as a water transport deficit through xylem dysfunction, but that other reaction mechanisms in the plants must be considered. The possibility to use fast chlorophyll a fluorescence monitoring as a wood decay early detection tool is discussed.     

Physiological responses of the legume model Medicago truncatula cv. Jemalong to water deficit

In Medicago truncatula Gaertn. cv. Jemalong plants some mechanisms involved in drought resistance were analysed in response to a progressive water deficit imposed by suppression of soil irrigation. Withholding water supply until the soil had reached one-half of its maximum water content had no significant effect on leaf RWC, gas exchanges or chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Under severe drought conditions, the plants resistance to water shortage involved mainly drought avoidance mechanisms through a decrease in stomatal conductance. The consequent decrease in the internal CO₂ concentration (C_i) should have limited the net CO₂ fixation (A). Since A decreased slightly more than C_i under severe water deficit, non-stomatal limitations of photosynthesis may have also occurred. Analysis of A/C_i curves showed reduced carboxylation efficiency due to limitations in RuBP regeneration and Rubisco activity, confirming the presence of non-stomatal limitations of photosynthesis. Drought tolerance mechanisms involving osmotic adjustment and an increase in cell membrane integrity were also present. Altogether, these mechanisms allowed M. truncatula cv. Jemalong plants to still maintain a quite elevated level of net CO₂ fixation rate under severe water deficit conditions. These results may contribute to identify useful physiological traits for breeding programs concerning drought adaptation in legumes.     

彩叶草对模拟干旱胁迫的生理响应

采用盆栽试验,对彩叶草进行PEG-6000浓度为0(对照)、5%、10%、15%、20%(W/V)模拟干旱胁迫,研究在干旱胁迫下彩叶草的生长、渗透调节能力及抗氧化酶活性的变化。结果表明:与对照相比,随着PEG-6000浓度的增加,鲜质量、干质量、含水量、水势、根系脱氢酶活性、无机离子含量包括K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+等均呈下降趋势;NO-3含量呈先下降后上升趋势;硝酸还原酶活性、可溶性蛋白含量、可溶性糖含量、超氧化物歧化酶活性均呈先上升后下降趋势;脯氨酸含量、游离氨基酸含量、过氧化物酶活性、过氧化氢酶活性、超氧阴离子(O-2·)产生速率、质膜透性则呈上升趋势。因此,模拟干旱胁迫对彩叶草生长有抑制作用,且随着PEG-6000浓度增加,其生长受抑制和水分胁迫程度加重;模拟干旱胁迫下,彩叶草不积累K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+和NO-3等无机离子进行渗透调节,而积累脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、游离氨基酸等有机小分子物质进行渗透调节,但这4种小分子物质增加幅度不尽相同;轻度模拟干旱胁迫虽增强彩叶草抗氧化酶活性,但仍表现轻度的氧化伤害;重度模拟干旱胁迫加重彩叶草氧化伤害。研究结果可为彩叶草耐旱生理机制的研究积累资料,也为其节水型栽植和养护提供依据。     

花生幼苗对重复干旱胁迫的生理响应

防雨棚内设盆栽试验,设置对照(Control,75%田间持水量)、干旱胁迫(D,35%)、重复干旱胁迫(D_D,35%)3个处理,探讨花生幼苗对预干旱胁迫的适应和记忆响应,分析预干旱对缓解重复干旱胁迫危害的生理作用。结果表明,与干旱胁迫处理相比,重复干旱胁迫提高了叶片的相对含水量,减少脯氨酸的积累,降低MDA和O·_2~-含量;抗氧化酶SOD、CAT活性降低,其中POD活性降低最为明显,并在复水后恢复到与对照相同水平或低于对照。与正常水分的对照相比,干旱胁迫显著降低叶片光合速率(P_N)、最大光合势能(P_C)、最大光量子产量(Y_Q),但重复干旱处理在重复干旱胁迫时期和复水后P_N、P_C和Y_Q均高于干旱处理。预干旱胁迫导致光合和气孔导度滞后面积、滞后率(H_P和H_g)增加,经过预干旱胁迫后,重复干旱显著降低光合和气孔导度滞后面积和滞后率。预干旱胁迫提高植株在重复干旱胁迫下叶片含水量,减轻重复干旱对植株造成的生理伤害,在光合作用上提高对重复干旱的抵御能力,并在复水后快速恢复到正常水分条件下植株生长水平,减少干旱对植株的不利影响。因此,预干旱胁迫促使花生幼苗具备适应或可记忆初始胁迫的能力,重复干旱胁迫时表现更为迅速和强烈的生理防御和快速的生理恢复机制。     

不同生态区主要育成谷子品种芽期耐旱性鉴定

以-0.5 MPa的PEG6000作渗透介质模拟干旱条件,对不同生态区的谷子(Setaria italica(L.)Beauv.)品种(系)进行种子萌发耐旱鉴定。结果表明:在PEG6000胁迫下,萌发耐旱指数与相对根芽比、芽生长抑制率呈极显著负相关;与根生长抑制率呈正相关,但相关系数小,相关不显著;与相对发芽势呈极显著正相关,且相关系数达0.939,可以反映谷子芽期耐旱性。根据萌发耐旱指数,将201份谷子品种(系)划分为极抗旱、抗旱、中度抗旱、不抗旱和极不抗旱5个等级。     

Genotypic variation for drought tolerance in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.): Leaf gas exchange and productivity

Although water-limited environments are detrimental to cotton growth and productivity worldwide, identification of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes that are less sensitive to drought may improve productivity in drought prone areas. The objective of the study was to assess genotypic variation for drought tolerance in cotton varieties using physiological attributes as selection criteria, and to determine the relationship of physiological attributes with productivity traits. The association of target physiological traits for drought tolerance (photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (g_s), and transpiration rate (E)) with productivity traits under well-watered (W₁) and water-limited (W₂) regimes was analyzed using 32 public cotton cultivars/bred lines in two field experiments conducted during the normal cotton growing seasons 2003 and 2004. Seed cotton yield (SCY) and biological yield (BY) were markedly affected under W₂ regime in all cultivars except the outstanding performance of CIM-1100 and RH-510 proving their superiority to other cultivars in drought tolerance. Conversely, FH-901, FH-634, and FH-2000 were high yielding under W₁ regime; however, exhibited a sharp decline in yield under W₂ regime. A positive correlation between SCY and BY under water stress (r=0.44 in 2003; r=0.69 in 2004) indicates that BY is also a primary determinant of SCY under water stress and genetic improvement of BY under water-limited environment may also improve SCY. P_n, g_s, and E were significantly reduced by water stress. Substantial genotypic variation for gas exchange attributes existed among the cotton cultivars. A positive association (P<0.01) was observed between g_s and E under both regimes in both years indicating the prevalence of stomatal control of transpiration. The positive association (P<0.01) between P_n and g_s in both years in W₂ regime indicates also a major role of stomatal effects in regulating leaf photosynthesis under water-limited conditions. P_n was significantly correlated with SCY (P<0.01) and BY (P<0.05 in 2003; P<0.01 in 2004) in W₂ regime; however, the level of these associations was not significant in W₁ regime. These findings demonstrate that association of P_n with productivity is effective under water-limited environment and may be useful as a selection criterion in breeding programs with the objective of improving drought tolerance and SCY under water-limited environments. Moreover, association between SCY and BY under water stress suggests that genetic improvement of BY under water stress may also improve SCY.