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DOES EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF GLYCINEBETAINE AS A PRE-SOWING SEED TREATMENT IMPROVE GROWTH AND REGULATE SOME KEY PHYSIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES IN WHEAT PLANTS GROWN UNDER WATER DEFICIT CONDITIONS?

TAHIR MAHMOOD, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF^* AND MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ

Abstract: The ameliorative effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with glycinebetaine (GB) on growth attributes, gas exchange characteristics, and root and shoot mineral nutrients of wheat was observed under water deficit conditions. Five wheat cultivars viz., SARC-I, Inqlab-91, MH-97, Bhakkar and S-24 were grown under well-watered and 60% field capacity. Three levels of GB (0, 50 and 100 mM) were applied as pre-sowing seed treatment. Drought stress caused reduction in shoot fresh and dry biomass, shoot length, leaf area per plant, grain yield, net CO₂ assimilation and transpiration rates, and stomatal conditions. However, exogenous application of GB as a pre-sowing seed treatment increased shoot fresh biomass and leaf area per plant while its effect was non-significant on net CO₂ assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency, and shoot and root N, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and P. Overall, GB applied @ 50 mM showed the maximum effect in ameliorating growth of wheat plants under drought stress. Cultivars SARC-I, Inqlab-91 and S-24 were better as compared to others in their response to drought or GB application.

Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Correspondence to: ashrafbot@yahoo.com