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Present study investigates the morphological and physiological plant responses to water stress in Andrographis paniculata. The total experiment carried out under greenhouse conditions. Root and shoot lengths, Total plant fresh and dry weights, number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll content, DNA and RNA content were evaluated at different water stress levels such as control plants (daily watered), T2 plants(watered on every 2nd day), T4 plants(watered on every 4th day), T7plants(watered on every 7th day). In this experiment observed that in all characteristic features, that there was a decrease in them during severe stress conditions compared with those of control plants. water stress has not only affected growth parameters but also the levels of chlorophylls, DNA and RNA due to enhanced activities of various hydrolytic enzymes including proteases.

Key words: Andrographis paniculata, Water stress, Chlorophyll, DNA and RNA.