Abstract
In order to identify accessions/lines of sesbania [Sesbania sesban (L.) Merril.] which could produce high quantity of forage for livestock in hot and arid environments, eight diverse accessions (Shahpur, Sialkot, Khanewal 1, Khanewal 2, Sahianwala, Bhowana 1, Bhowana 2 and Chiniot) collected from different regions of Punjab, Pakistan were screened for drought tolerance using relative membrane permeability and photosynthetic capacity as selection criteria. Plant fresh and dry biomass and gas exchange characteristics [net photosynthetic rate (P-n), transpiration rate (E), sub- stomatal CO2 conc. (C-i) and water-use efficiency (A/E)] of all sesbania accessions were affected adversely due to water shortage, but the response of all sesbania cultivars was not consistent to dry conditions appraised using different physiological parameters. On the basis of plant biomass production under dry conditions, accessions Shahpur, Khanewal 2, Sahianwala and Bhowana 2 were ranked as superior, whereas Sialkot was ranked as the poorest performer of all accessions, so the earlier accessions could be grown on arid or semi-arid soils with some plausible management practices.