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NITRIC OXIDE IMPROVES GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF RUBBER (Hevea brasiliensis) UNDER DROUGHT AND HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS

Cultivation of Hevea is being extended to non – traditional areas of Sri Lanka where extreme climatic conditions like drought and high temperature are the major impediments limiting the crop performance. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule which has proved to be protective against damages provoked by abiotic stresses. In this work, we studied the effect of NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the response of  Hevea to drought and heat stresses. There was a significant increase in net photosynthesis (Pr) and chlorophyll content (Cc) in drought imposed plants treated with SNP as compared to those devoid of SNP treatment under heat stress condition in the glass house. Girth and physiological attributes viz., Pr, stomatal conductance (g s ) and leaf water potential (Ψ) of the field grown plants treated with SNP increased as compared to control. Therefore, exogenous SNP proved to be beneficial in improving growth and physiological attributes of Hevea under stress conditions. Keywords: growth, physiological attributes, rubber, sodium nitroprusside, drought stress