Ali Akbar Ghanbari, Mohammad Reza Shakiba, Mahmood Toorchi and Rajab Choukan
To investigate the traits and characteristics of leaves of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes under contrasting moisture regimes, a biennial experiment was conducted as split-plot based on randomized complete block design with four replications. Two irrigation levels (normal and water deficit) and eight genotypes (AND1007, Akhtar, D81083, COS16, KS21486, MCD4011, WA4531-17 and WA4502-1) were arranged in main plots and in sub-plots, respectively. The results indicated that WA4502-1 had the highest leaf area and LAI, and leaf biomass, and had the lowest chlorophyll content in the well watered treatments. Under drought stress, AND1007 showed the highest leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf number per plant, leaf angle, LAI and leaf biomass. In this case, the highest level of chlorophyll index was related to Akhtar genotype. Genotype WA4531-17 had the greatest specific leaf weight (SLW) in both conditions. Water deficit reduced the RWC, leaf wet weight, leaf dry weight, LAI, and plant leaf numbers until 8, 34, 31, 22, and 19 percentages, respectively. By contrast, leaf temperature and leaf angle of all genotypes increased up to 2°C and 24 degrees. In general, AND1007 and COS16 were superior genotypes than the others.
