Enhancing Drought Tolerance in Wheat through Improving Morpho- Physiological and Antioxidants Activities of Plants by the Supplementation of Foliar Silicon

The main objective of the research is to assess the role of foliar application of silicon(Si)for enhancing the survival ability of wheat under drought stress through improving its morphology,physicochemical and antioxidants activities.Treatments were five doses of Si at the rate of 2,4,6 and 8 mM and a control.After completion of seeds germination,pots were divided into four distinct groups at various field capacity(FC)levels,such as 100%FC(well-irrigated condition),75%FC(slight water deficit),50%FC(modest water deficit)and 25%FC(severe water deficit stress condition).Foliar application of Si at the rate of 2,4,6 and 8 mM and a control were given after 30 days of sowing at the tillering stage of wheat.Findings of the present investigation indicated that increasing the level of water deficit stress reduced the morphological parameters(such as root and shoot fresh and dry-biomass weight)and physico-biochemical events((such as chlorophyll contents by estimating SPAD value),total free amino acid(TFAA),total soluble sugar(TSS),total soluble protein(TSP),total proline(TP),CAT(catalase),POD(peroxidase),SOD(superoxide dismutase)and APX(ascorbate peroxidase))of wheat;while foliar application of Si at 6 mM at tillering stage enhanced the drought tolerance in wheat by increasing morphology and physiochemical characters under all levels of drought stress.Similarly,antioxidants activities in wheat also enhanced by the application of Si at 6 mM under normal as well as all drought stress levels.There-fore,it may be concluded that foliar application of Si at 6 mM at the tillering stage of wheat is an important indication for increasing the drought tolerance by improving the morphology,physico-biochemical and antioxidants activities in plants under deficit water(drought)conditions.

Alterations in Growth and Yield of Camelina Induced by Different Planting Densities under Water Deficit Stress

Camelina(Camelina sativa L.)is famous for its oil quality and unique fatty acid pattern.Growth and yield of crops reduced under water deficit conditions.Environmental threat such as drought or water deficit condition is the emerging problem which creates the negative impact on the growth of plants.Based upon the current situation a pot study was performed in rain out-shelter to explore the effect of different plant densities(15,10 and 5 plants per pot)on growth and seed yield of two camelina genotypes under normal(100%WHC)and water deficit(60%WHC)conditions by using completely randomized design with factorial arrangement having three replicates.Results indicated that individual effects of plant densities and water deficit stress levels considerably influenced the growth and seed yield of camelina but interaction effects did not indicate any significant variation.Maximum values of leaf area index(LAI)and crop growth rate(CGR)were recorded in P_(3) treatment(15 plants per pot).However,maximum values of leaf area duration(LAD),net assimilation rate(NAR),yield and yield components were observed in the treatment P_(1)(5 plants per pot).Water deficit condition(60%WHC)significantly minimized the growth,seed yield(0.82 g/m^(2))and yield components of camelina genotypes.Both camelina genotypes(611 and 618)did not differ significantly under water deficit conditions.