Morpho-Anatomical Adaptations in Mung Bean Under Drought Stress

Drought stress is a critical global challenge that severely impairs plant morphology, anatomy, physiology and production. Plants grown under water deficiencies exhibit notable changes ranging from decreased leaf area and reduced stem growth to alterations in cell structure and impaired photosynthesis activity. The foliar application of silicon (Si) and Moringa leaf extract (MLE) has improved plant resilience against drought stress among various management strategies. Silicon enhances water uptake, water retention, cell wall fortification and stomatal regulation which consequently boosts biomass accumulation in plants and improves yield quality. Moringa leaf extract has high content of natural growth hormones, e.g. zeatin and essential micronutrients which promotes cell division, increases chlorophyll content and enhances overall photosynthetic efficiency. Keywords: Climate change, water scarcity, mung bean, silicon, MLE, physiological stress, water potential, productivity.