PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND NITROGENASE ACTIVITY IN SOYBEAN IN RESPONSE TO WATER-STRESS

Effects of water stress and its subsequent recovery on the leaf water potential, photosynthesis, nodules' moisture and nitrogenase activity were examined in soybean mutant, nts 1007. Water stress created at veg etative and reproductive stages resulted in a decrease of leaf water p otential and nodules' moisture content. Decrease of leaf water potenti al was associated with the reduction of photosynthesis and nitrogenase activity causing the maximum reduction in nitrogenase activity and ph otosynthesis at reproductive stage. After rewatering, complete recover y in leaf water potential and nodules' moisture content were obtained within 24 hrs but recovery of nitrogenase activity and photosynthesis did not fully recover even after 72 hrs of rewatering.