Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a protein‐rich grain legume with high adaptability to heat and drought and can be consumed during all stages of the plant development. Drought is a severe environmental stress with major impacts on plant development and productivity. This study main objective was to understand the effects of drought stress on polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity in plant tissue at different stages of cowpea development. Four cowpea genotypes grown until the anthesis under well‐irrigate conditions and then were submitted to two watering regimens (0% and 75% of field capacity) for one week. Immature pods and seeds and dry seeds were collected, and polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity were evaluated by spectrophotometry. In general, differences between genotypes, plant growth stage and treatments were observed. A variation of phenolic content and antioxidant capacity has been detected in all cowpea genotypes and plant tissues at different development stages. Immature pods showed the highest values in all the parameters evaluated, while the dry seed presented the lowest values. The samples submitted to drought stress showed a slight decrease in all the parameters evaluated compared to control samples being this decrease only significant in some parameters and growth stages. This study shows that drought stress did not significantly influence the quality of cowpea through phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.

中文翻译：

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干旱胁迫对cow豆荚和种子中多酚含量和抗氧化能力的影响

pea豆（Vigna unguiculataL. Walp）是一种富含蛋白质的谷物豆类，对高温和干旱具有高度适应性，可以在植物发育的所有阶段食用。干旱是一种严重的环境压力，对植物的发育和生产力产生重大影响。本研究的主要目的是了解干旱胁迫对cow豆发育不同阶段植物组织中多酚含量和抗氧化能力的影响。四种cow豆基因型在良好的灌溉条件下生长到开花期，然后接受两种浇水方案（田间持水量的0％和75％），持续一周。收集未成熟的荚果和种子以及干燥的种子，并通过分光光度法评估多酚含量和抗氧化能力。通常，观察到基因型，植物生长阶段和处理之间的差异。在不同发育阶段的所有cow豆基因型和植物组织中均检测到酚含量和抗氧化能力的变化。在所有评估的参数中，未成熟的豆荚显示出最高的值，而干燥的种子呈现出最低的值。与对照样品相比，经受干旱胁迫的样品显示所有评估参数均略有下降，因为该下降仅在某些参数和生长期中显着。这项研究表明，干旱胁迫并未通过酚含量和抗氧化能力显着影响of豆的品质。与对照样品相比，经受干旱胁迫的样品显示所有评估参数均略有下降，因为该下降仅在某些参数和生长期中显着。这项研究表明，干旱胁迫并未通过酚含量和抗氧化能力显着影响of豆的品质。与对照样品相比，经受干旱胁迫的样品显示所有评估参数均略有下降，因为该下降仅在某些参数和生长期中显着。这项研究表明，干旱胁迫并未通过酚含量和抗氧化能力显着影响of豆的品质。