Effect of Water Stress in Banana Cultivars and Hybrids

Banana is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. The water requirements of banana vary according to topography, soil, variety and type of climate and type of culture.Banana consumed 2150 mm water to produce higher yield. In banana, the major physiological constraints limiting the productivity of the crop is water deficit. Water deficit severely affects the plant growth and yield, because it deeply reduces the photosynthetic capacity of the banana plants as the crop sensitivity is reflected by reduced greenness of foliage. In accordance with this contention the present study is were made on the screening of banana cultivars for tolerance to water deficit based on morphological, physiological and biochemical changes under imposed water deficit situations.