Four peanut cultivars (BR 1, BRS 151 L 7, Senegal and CNPA Havana) were evaluated for water stress effects upon transpiration, diffusive resistance and leaf water potential under greenhouse conditions. The plants were cultivated normally for 15 days after sowing. Following this, one group was watered while the other one was submitted to 45 days watering suppression, after this interval, plants were irrigated again. The evaluations were made every 15 days and after 48 h of irrigation utilizing adult leaflets, on the top of the canopy. The parameters studied were: diffusive resistance (Rs), transpiration (E) and leaf water potential (ψw). The cultivars showed differences in tolerance characteristics to water stress. The BR 1 cultivar showed low stomatic resistance and more negative values of leaf water potential. Thus it was found to be the most tolerant to water stress.
transpiration; diffusive resistance; leaf water potential; Arachis hypogaea L
