Role of homobrassinolide and kinetin on physiological, biochemical parameters and yield of chickpea (Clcer arietinum L.) under water stress conditions

Water stress had repressing effect on plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area, SPAD Chlorophyll Meter Reading (SCMR) and yield. The proline content and membrane injury index increased under water stress. The water stress, induced from vegetative stage, severely suffered as compared to water stress induced from flowering stage. The spray of Homobrassinolide @ 1 ppm was most suitable for minimizing the effect of water stress followed by kinetin @ 5ppm. Control plants recorded higher seed yield and the plants stressed from vegetative stage recorded the minimum due to severe detrimental effect of water stress. Homobrassinolide @ 1 ppm spray resulted in higher seed yield, which was at par with kinetin spray @ 5 ppm.