Response of Cowpea Genotypes to Water Stress in Temperate Climatic Conditions

Abstract

Mitigation of global climate change impact on the agricultural production is the major priorities in future research. Cowpea as a drought tolerant plant is interesting for growing in semi-arid climate of the Vojvodina region. The effect of water stress on yield of cultivated plants can be obtained by calculating the yield response factor (K<inf>y</inf>) which represents the ratio between the relative evapotranspiration deficit (1-ET<inf>a</inf>/ET<inf>m</inf>) and the relative decline in yield (1-Y<inf>a</inf>/Y<inf>m</inf>). The values of K<inf>y</inf> ranged from 0.91 to 1.17 for genotype G<inf>1</inf> and G<inf>2</inf> respectively. Genotype G<inf>1</inf>, with a value lower than 1 of Ky, shows a good tolerance to water deficit, on the contrary, genotype G<inf>2</inf>, with a greater K<inf>y</inf> than 1, expresses some sensitivity to water stress. Obtained results will be used in breeding programs to develop cowpea cultivars tolerant to stressful conditions, primarily to water stress, as well as more productive in water use.