To evaluate the resistance of different cultivars of Estahban edible fig to water stress, the study was carried out in 2009 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Khorasan-e-Razavi, Iran. Four various fig cultivars (Sabz, Siah, Matti and Shah-anjir) were studied through a factorial experiment (4 × 4) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in three replications under water stress treatments including severe stress (25% of field capacity), moderate stress (50% of field capacity), mild stress (75% of field capacity), and control treatment (100% of field capacity). The effect of moisture stress on physiological and biochemical characteristics of plants was investigated by application of ANOVA test. The results showed drought stress decreases the chlorophyll and leaf Relative Water Content (RWC) and increases the proline and electrolyte leakage. Although, Siah showed the highest tolerance according to most determined parameters, it did not provide favourable results in electrolyte leakage.

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