|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Among abiotic stresses drought is one of the most important limiting factor that adversely affect the plant production in the majority of agricultural crops of the world. Presently exogenous application of cytokinins i.e., Kinetin (@ 10, 20 and 40 mg/L) and Benzyl adenine(@ 25 and 50 mg/L) was studied on plant Relative leaf water content (RLWC), Water saturation deficit (WSD), relative saturation deficit (RSD) and carbohydrate metabolism (total soluble sugars and starch) content of wheat cultivars under water deficit conditions. PEG-induced (-0.4Mpa) stress significantly decreased the content of RLWC and Starch content in wheat cvs (HD2967, PBW660, WH1105 and PBW658). Exogenous application of both cytokinins {Kinetin (Kn) and benzyl adenine (BA)} significantly increased the leaf water content and starch in leaves of wheat seedlings. The total soluble sugars content, WSD and RSD was lesser in control of all selected cultivars and increased significantly under PEG-6000 induced drought stress and significant increase in soluble sugars was further recorded when cytokinins were supplied exogenously. Significant decline in WSD and RSD was observed with the application of both cytokinins. From among the tested levels Kn @ 40 mg/L and BA @ 50 mg/L had more pronounced effect. The accumulation of more total soluble sugars and maintenance of starch content leads to more water retention and decline in water deficit of leaf tissue with exogenously applied cytokinins protects the plant from adverse effect of drought.