The Effect of Water Stress on Growth and Solasodine Content in Solanum khasianum

The effect of water stress on growth and development of SOLANUM KHASIANUM (Clarke) and on the solasodine content of its fruits, was studied under mild (field experiment) and severe (pot experiment) conditions. Under field conditions, vegetative development was inhibited but fruit production or yield were not affected and fruit maturity was enhanced considerably. Solasodine content was not affected and yield per plant remained the same with and without irrigation. Under conditions of severe water stress, fruit production and yield were affected as well as vegetative development. An increase in solasodine content per dry weight was observed, however, solasodine yield per plant was lower as a result of loss in fruit yield. Under conditions of extreme water stress, more negative water and osmotic potentials were developed and turgor was maintained in the leaves.