Selection of Soybean and Cowpea Cultivars with Superior Performance under Drought Using Growth and Biochemical Aspects

• Published in: Plants (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 17; p. 3134
• Main Authors: Miranda, Rafael de Souza, Fonseca, Bruno Sousa Figueiredo da, Pinho, Davielson Silva, Batista, Jennyfer Yara Nunes, Brito, Ramilos Rodrigues de, Silva, Everaldo Moreira da, Ferreira, Wesley Santos, Costa, José Hélio, Lopes, Marcos dos Santos, Sousa, Renan Henrique Beserra de, Neves, Larissa Fonseca, Penha, José Antônio Freitas, Santos, Amanda Soares, Lima, Juliana Joice Pereira, Paula-Marinho, Stelamaris de Oliveira, Neto, Francisco de Alcântara, Aguiar, Évelyn Silva de, Santos, Clesivan Pereira dos, Gomes-Filho, Enéas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 31-08-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Amino acids; Brazil; Carbohydrates; Chlorophyll; Cowpea; Cowpeas; Crops; Cultivars; Drought; Drought resistance; drought tolerance; Droughts; Field capacity; Glycine max; Growth; Hardiness; Hypotheses; leguminous crops; Membranes; Moisture content; Organic compounds; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetic pigments; Physiological aspects; Pigments; Plant growth; Plants; Proline; Soybean; Soybeans; Vigna unguiculata; Vigna unguiculata L. Walp; Water content; Water damage; water deficit; Water levels; Water scarcity; Water shortages; Brazil
• DOI: 10.3390/plants12173134
• EISSN: 2223-7747

Identifying cultivars of leguminous crops exhibiting drought resistance has become crucial in addressing water scarcity issues. This investigative study aimed to select soybean and cowpea cultivars with enhanced potential to grow under water restriction during the vegetative stage. Two parallel trials were conducted using seven soybean (AS3810IPRO, M8644IPRO, TMG1180RR, NS 8338IPRO, BMX81I81IPRO, M8808IPRO, and BÔNUS8579IPRO) and cowpea cultivars (Aracê, Novaera, Pajeú, Pitiúba, Tumucumaque, TVU, and Xique-xique) under four water levels (75, 60, 45, and 30% field capacity—FC) over 21 days. Growth, water content, membrane damage, photosynthetic pigments, organic compounds, and proline levels were analyzed. Drought stress significantly impacted the growth of both crops, particularly at 45 and 30% FC for soybean and 60 and 45% FC for cowpea plants. The BÔNUS8579IPRO and TMG1180RR soybean cultivars demonstrated the highest performance under drought, a response attributed to increased amino acids and proline contents, which likely help to mitigate membrane damage. For cowpea, the superior performance of the drought-stressed Xique-xique cultivar was associated with the maintenance of water content and elevated photosynthetic pigments, which contributed to the preservation of the photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrate levels. Our findings clearly indicate promising leguminous cultivars that grow under water restriction, serving as viable alternatives for cultivating in water-limited environments.