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RESPONSES OF GROWTH, WATER RELATION AND SOLUTE ACCUMULATION IN WHEAT GENOTYPES UNDER WATER DEFICIT

A.H, KHAN, S.M. h-.11JJTA4BAA ND B. KHANZADA

Abstract: Eight heat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes viz., Chakwal-86, M-154, DS-4, Rohtas, Lu-26, Sindh-81, DS-17 and Pasban were raised in soil under normal and water stress conditions. Stress was imposed by withholding water when the plants were 50 days old and growth parameters determined at 10 and 20 days after the imposed stress. Leaf water relation and solutes concentration were also determined. A wide range of differences in growth under increasing water deficit was observed between genotypes. Drought tolerant genotypes maintained turgor by decreasing osmotic potential at lower leaf water potential and they showed higher osmotic adjustment. Sugar and K+ were the major osmotic contributor. Sugar played a major role in increasing osmotic concentration under water deficit.
 

Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tando Jam, Pakistan.