PJB-2017-853
SALICYLIC ACID MEDIATED HEAT STRESS TOLERANCE IN WHEAT (Triticum aestivum)
Rehana Kousar
Abstract
Wheat is one of the most important cereal crop significantly affected by continual and terminal heat stress. Phytohormones are recognized as a strong tool for sustainably alleviating adverse effects of abiotic stresses in crop plants. The impact of externally applied salicylic acid was investigated on physiological and agronomical traits of five wheat varieties under heat stress in pot and field study. Salicylic acid was applied exogenously through two ways; pre-soaking seeds in 10-4 M solution of salicylic acid for 24 hours and salicylic acid foliar application to adult wheat plants three days prior to heat stress. Untreated seeds were used as control. In pots high temperature stress was imposed to plants at post anthesis stage. In field study one set was sown late so that plants can receive high temperature at grain filling stage. Both field and pot study revealed that heat stress reduced the grain yield and thousand kernel weights. It reduced leaf chlorophyll content by 34% and brought about an increase of 40% in proline content, 20% in leaf soluble proteins and 17% in soluble sugars as compared to the control stressed plants. Application of salicylic acid increased the chlorophyll content in leaves, enhanced proline accumulation, and improved the agronomic traits and yield by 5-25% in the wheat genotypes under heat stress. It can be concluded that exogenous application of salicylic acid through seed priming or foliar spray at post anthesis stage leads to better adaptability of wheat plants to heat stress.
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