Tolerance to drought: Adaptation differential between forage species

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize adaptive mechanisms of forage potential plants (Macroptilium lathyroides L, Vigna luteola Jacq and Desmodium incanum DC) under water stress. The treatments were carried out by the suspension of irrigation and maintenance of the plants in fi eld capacity, 60 days after sowing. The evaluations were performed at 4, 11, and 18 days after submission to the drought and with 2, 5 and 9 days after rehydration. The osmolytes accumulation, soluble sugars and proline, constituted a clear strategy for metabolic adaptation to water stress in the studied species , resulting in less interference from the oxidative stress in Desmodium incanum DC.