PJB-2023-333
IMPROVING DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN WHEAT THROUGH PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA
MUHAMMAD HASHIR
Abstract
The most vital cereal crop in the world is wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, its production is declining due to several abiotic and biotic problems. Drought is one of the most frequent abiotic factor hindering wheat development and yield. Various agronomic approaches have been employed in addressing drought, yet the success has been meager. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate impact of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for reducing drought stress in wheat under field condition. The PGPR strains were collected from the laboratory of Soil and Environmental Sciences department, MNS University of Agriculture Multan. The treatments were T1: control, T2: PGPR inoculation, T3: Drought at flowering stage, T4: PGPR inoculation + drought at flowering stage, T5: Drought at grain filling stage, and T6: PGPR inoculation + drought at grain filling stage. Three replications of each treatment were maintained following a randomized complete block design (RCBD). All agronomic practices were followed as per the production technology of wheat. The significant results were observed in growth, physiological and yield parameters over the control treatment. PGPR consortia inoculation showed 15.9% increase in plant height as compared with control. However, non-significant results of spike length were found in water stressed condition in comparison with control. The treatment T4 where PGPR inoculation and drought applied at flowering stage showed 18.7% increase in grain weight over control. However, maximum biomass and chlorophyll contents were produced in PGPR inoculated plants of wheat as compared to the non-inoculated plots. Further evaluation of the selected treatment is suggested at multiple sites.
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