Abstract

Oil palm seedlings were subjected to water stress by suspension of watering. At 9 days of stress, water potentials had decreased to -2.4 Mpa. Moisture stress under these conditions provoked about 20% damage to the cellular membranes, as measured by electrolyte leakage. Relative water content and protein content of moisture stressed plants were reduced compared to well watered seedlings. Although the direct target of this damage in the membranes, (proteins or lipids), has not been examined in this study, observed decrease in extractable leaf protein could suggest some relation between some parameters which decreased with increased stress such as membrane integrity damage and protein loss. There were measurable differences between progenies in the parameters studied. The implication is that progenies were affected to different degrees by drought and such differences could be exploited for selecting drought tolerant genotypes.

Key words: Oil palm, moisture stress, seedlings, water potential, membrane stability.