EFFECT OF EXOGENOUSLY APPLIED OSMOLYTES ON WHEAT UNDER WATER STRESS

Crop development and productivity are affected by water stress in a variety of ways. The majority of responses had a negative influence on production. Compatible solutes rescue plants during intense water deficit conditions. Glycine betaine (GB) and Putrescine (Put) are main solutes, playing role in improving plant water status and ultimately the crop yield. Under field water stress condition, the effect of exogenously applied osmolytes such as Glycine betaine (GB) and Putrescine (Put) on physio-biochemical traits, yield and attributing parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was examined. The addition of GB and Put to drought-stressed plants boosted osmolyte and soluble carbohydrate accumulation while decreasing MDA levels. The antioxidant enzyme activity, which protects the plant against stress, was also improved by the same treatment. These data lead us to believe that applying GB and Put (100 mM and 1.0 mM, respectively) to wheat at the flowering stage is the optimum strategy for reducing drought stress and increasing yield.