Benzyladenine: A protective tool for water stress Benzyladenine, Carbohydrates, Development, Germination, Groundnut, Membrane, Oil, PAGE, Protein, Water stress , Wax

The present experiments were carried out to study the effect of polyethylene glycol-6000 induced water deficit stress and benzyl adenine (BA) soaked seed followed by drought treatments in field conditions on various biochemical, molecular parameters and antioxidant enzymes system in leaf of groundnut cultivars. The experiment was conducted in three parts (I) Laboratory study (II) Field study and (III) Product quality analysis. Based on the laboratory experimental data, a field experiment was planned in split plot design to study the effect of BA soaked seed and drought at different crop growth stages in leaf of three groundnut cultivars (cv. GG-2, cv. GG-7 and cv. J-11). Benzyl adenine soaking seed treatment significantly improved the pod yield, haulm yield and biological yield under drought conditions. Pod yield was negatively correlated with ascorbate peroxidase and catalase at vegetative stage. Leaf membrane injury, free amino acids, reducing sugars, catalase and superoxide dismutase negatively correlated both at pegging and pod development stage. The application of benzyl adenine in general, improved the seed quality.