Morphological characterization of coriander in response to drought

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological traits associated with drought tolerance among selected coriander seeds under controlled moisture-deficit conditions. Ten coriander seeds were grown in pots and subjected to two irrigation regimes: well-watered (100% field capacity) and drought-stressed (50% field capacity). Morphological parameters including plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, root length, shoot biomass, and root-to-shoot ratio were recorded. The experiment was conducted in the Botanical Garden and laboratories of the Botany Department of A.I. Jat H.M. College, Rohtak. Significant genotypic variation was observed for all traits under drought stress. Coriander seeds CS-4 and CS-8 exhibited higher root length, maintained greater leaf area, and showed minimal reduction in biomass, indicating superior drought adaptability. Correlation analysis revealed that root length and root-to-shoot ratio were positively associated with drought tolerance index. The results suggest that these morphological traits can serve as reliable selection criteria for screening drought-tolerant coriander lines, supporting future breeding programs aimed at improving resilience under water-limited environments.