1. INTRODUCTION:

Wheat is the 2^nd most important staple crop after rice belongs to family Gramineae commonly known as King of Cereals. Mostly grown wheat is hexaploid type and is important source of our daily dietary needs. It is widely grown in all environmental conditions ranging from temperate highlands to warm lowlands regions.^1,2Worldwide wheat is chiefly grown in China, Northern India, Russia, Canada, Northern USA, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Central and Northern European countries.

In most areas of the world commonly in arid and semi-arid the climatic scenario are hugely changed due to high temperature and low water availability which significantly lower the production.^3,4,5,6 In India wheat is mainly grown under rain fed conditions with not proper irrigation facilities due to topographical variation.⁷Drought restrains crop growth and production worldwide.^8,9,10

Drought and salt stress conditions also decreased the productivity and production by lowering seedling germination percentage, roots and shoots length of crop plants.^11,12Sudden change in rainfall percentage and temperature in areas under wheat increase or decrease 2-5% production. In most of wheat growing areas there is no proper irrigation system, small land holding, low knowledge of farmers towards tolerant varieties are major restriction for low production.¹³Drought stress conditions greatly threat the wheat production therefore there is a great need on improvement of these areas for getting more yield and to fulfil the population demand.¹⁴

Low moisture conditions mostly occur during the seed germination and growth period in semi- arid areas of all wheat producing regions.¹⁵ Wheat production is relatively decreased by low moisture climatic conditions during seed germination and growth stages.^16,17Polyethylene glycol mostly used to create in vitro drought stress conditions is very common evaluating method to test the response of various genotypes during germination and early growth period.^18,19,20

In comparison with control condition PEG significantly lowered the fresh and dry weight of germinating roots and shoots.²¹Under water stress conditions the shoot and root length of many crops greatly reduced.²²Testing drought stress tolerance of various wheat genotypes seed germination and emergence of seedling is very important criteria. Development of new cultivars of high yielding varieties after selection and advance breeding programmes increased food grains production in all wheat growing areas worldwide.^23,24

The objective of this experiment is to identify drought tolerant wheat genotypes resulting increase productivity and production in drought prone areas. It would also useful for development of drought tolerent varieties in various breeding programmes

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS:

2.1 Experimental Location:

This study was performed at Department of Botany, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (31ͦ 25’ N, 75ͦ 70’ E) Punjab during 2022.

2.2 Planting material:

For present investigation thirty diverse Indian bread wheat (TriticumaestivumL.) genotypes were used to study the effects of drought stress on grains growth.The seeds of different wheat genotypes were obtained from Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India.

2.3 Treatments:

Distinct concentration (-0.3 and -0.6 MPa) of polyethylene glycol 6000²⁵ including control (0 MPa) was used to examine the germination percentage, root length, shoot length, fresh/dry weight of roots and shoots. 0.1% mercuric chloride solution for 5 minutes was used to surface sterilized all wheat genotypes. 30 healthy and bold seeds of each wheat genotypes were kept in petri dish added 5 ml of each solution and placed at temperature 25±1ͦ C for ten days. After every 2 days fresh solution was added to all petri dishes.

2.4 Seed parameters:

After 3 days seeds germination was calculated. Seeds were considered germinated if it had 2mm emergence of both radicleand plumule.

2.4.1 Seed germination percentage: seed germination ratio was calculated by following formula

Number of germinated seeds

Seed Germination (%) = ------------------------------ x 100

Total number of seeds

2.5 Shoot parameters:

2.5.1 Shoot Length (cm): After ten days of sowing shoot length of each genotypes were measured in centimetre by using scale.

2.5.2 Shoot fresh weight (g): After separation of shoots from roots the fresh shoots weight (5 plants) were measured in grams by using digital electronic balance.

2.5.3 Shoot dry weight (g): Fresh shoots (5 plants) were dried in hot air oven for 72 hrs.at 65ͦ C temperature and measured the dry weight.

2.6 Root parameters:

2.6.1 Root Length (cm): After ten days of sowing root length of every genotypes were measured in centimetre by using scale.

2.6.2 Root fresh weight (g): The fresh roots weight (5 plants) were measured in grams with digital electronic balance after separation of roots from shoots.

2.6.3 Root dry weight (g): Fresh roots (5 plants) were dried in hot air oven for 72 hrs. at 65ͦC temperature and measured the dry weight.

3. Statistical Analysis:

The calculated data were statistically analysed by using student t test to find the significant difference among wheat genotypes.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

4.1 Seed germination (%): Seed germination (%) at control level (0 MPa) were significantly higher in HW 2004, HD 2329, K 0307, LOK 1, K 9644, HD 3086, JW 3020, HI 8713, PBW 725, WHB 1, VL 804, HI 1500, Sujata, UP 2382, WHK 5, WB 2, Raj 3756, WL 711, WH 550 and PBW 757 genotypes.At moderate stress conditions (-0.3 MPa) K 0307, HD 3086, JW 3020, HI 8713, PBW 725, WHB 1, MP 3288, HI 1500 and PBW 757 showed maximum germination percentage and significantly superior than other wheat genotypes. With increasing PEG concentration (-0.6 MPa) the wheat genotypes HD 2329,K 0307, JW 17, HD 3086, HUW 213, JW 3020, MACS 6145, HI 8713, PBW 725, MP3288, HI 1500, WH 147, WB 2 and PBW 757 were significantly superior compared to other genotypes and showed maximum seed germination as delineated in figure 1.

4.2 Shoot length (cm): The shoot length of valuated wheat genotypes showed significant difference under various osmotic stress conditions. At control (0 MPa) largest shoot length was measured in HD 3086, SKW 196, MACS 6145, HI 8713, HI 1500, Sujata, WH 147 and PBW 757. Under medium concentration (-0.3 MPa) maximum shoot length were attained by K 0307, UP 2565, LOK 1,SKW 196, MACS 6145, WH 147, WB 2, Raj 3756, WL 711 and PBW 757. Under higher stress conditions PEG concentration (-0.6 MPa) HW 2004, K 0307, LOK 1, K 9644, JW 3020, Raj 4037, WHB 1, VL 804, MP 3288, HI 1500, WH 542 and PBW 757 showed maximum length of shoot and are significantly superior in contrast to other genotypes as depicted in figure 2.

4.3 Root length (cm): The root length of different wheat genotypes when studied under distinct stress conditions showed significant difference. Genotypes HD 2329, UP 2565, HD 3086, SKW 196, HUW 213, JW 3020, MACS 6145, HI 8713, PBW 725, WHB 1, WH 147, Raj 3756 and WL 711 showed maximum root length at distilled water (0 MPa). Wheat genotypes HW 2004, K 0307, UP 2565, Kachu, HD 3086, HUW 213, JW 3020, MACS 6145, PBW 725, Raj 4037, WHB 1, UP 3282, WH 147,WH 542 and WB 2 showed maximum root length at medium concentration (-0.3 MPa) and are significantly superior than other.The root length of distinct genotypes when studied under higher PEG concentration (-0.6 MPa) the genotypes UP 2565, K 9644, JW 17, HD 3086, SKW 196, HUW 213, MACS 6145, HI 8713, PBW 725, Raj 4037, VL 804, MP 3288, HI 1500 and WH 147 showed maximal length and are significantly superior than other genotypes as depicted in figure 3.

4.4 Fresh shoot weight (g): The fresh shoot weight of various wheat genotypes showed significant difference under different osmotic stress concentrations. The highest fresh shoot weight under control (0 MPa) was showed by HD 2329, UP 2565, Kachu, JW 17, SKW 196, MACS 6145, PBW 725, HI 1500, WH 147, WH 550 and PBW 757. At medium concentration (-0.3 MPa) HD 2329, LOK 1, SKW 196, JW 3020, MACS 6145, WHB 1, MP 3288, HI 1500 WH 147 WH 550 and PBW 757 showed highest fresh shoot weight. At higher (-0.6 MPa) PEG solution HW 2004, K 0307, UP2565, LOK 1, K 9644, JW 17, HI 8713, Raj 4037, WHB 1, MP 3288 and Sujata showed maximal shoot weight and are significantly superior compared to other genotypes (figure 4).

4.5 Fresh root weight (g): During choosing of drought tolerant genotypes the biomass and morphology are very important traits. The fresh root weight decreased with higher PEG concentration. The fresh root weight at control (0 MPa) showed highest by UP 2565, Kachu, JW 17, SKW 196, JW 3020, HI 8713, PBW 725, WH 147, Raj 3756, WL 711 and WH 550 genotypes. HW 2004, K 0307, Kachu, SKW 196, JW 3020, PBW 725, UP 3282 and PBW 757 showed maximum fresh root weight at (-0.3 MPa) concentration and significantly superior than other wheat genotypes. At higher osmotic stress (-0.6 MPa) K 0307, UP 2565, LOK 1, JW 17, HI 8713, PBW 725, Raj 4037, WHB 1, VL 804, MP 3288 and Sujatasignificantly superior in contrast to other wheat genotypes and showed maximal weight (figure 5).

4.6 Dry shoot weight (g): Dry shoot weight of different wheat genotypes when studied under different osmotic stresses conditions showed decreasing trend with increasing polyethylene glycol concentration. The dry shoot weight at control (0 MPa) was observed highest by HD 2329, SKW 196, PBW 725, WH 147, Raj 3756, WL 711, WH 550 and PBW 757 genotypes. At medium PEG concentration (-0.3 MPa) LOK 1, Kachu, SKW 196, PBW 725, WHB 1, HI 1500, WH 147, WB 2, WH 550 and PBW 757 were significantly superior and showed highest dry shoot weight. At higher osmotic stress (-0.6 MPa) wheat genotypes HW 2004, UP 2565, LOK 1, K 9644, Kachu, HD 3086, JW 3020, MACS 6145, HI 8713, PBW 725, Raj 4037, WHB 1, VL 804, MP 3288, HI 1500, Sujata, WH 550 and PBW 757 showed maximal weight and significantly superior in comparison to other genotypes (figure 6).

4.7 Dry root weight (g): At control (0 MPa) the wheat genotypes HD 2329, UP 2565, Kachu, JW 17, JW 3020, PBW 725, Raj 4037, WHB 1 and WL 711 showed highest dry root weight and are significantly superior than other wheat genotypes. At (-0.3 MPa) PEG concentration wheat genotypes HW 2004, K 0307, LOK 1, K 9644, Kachu, JW 17, SKW 196, PBW 725, WHB 1, MP 3288, UP 2382, WHK 5, WH 550 and PBW 757 revealed highest dry root weight and significantly superior compared to other.With increasing PEG concentration (-0.6 MPa) the dry root weight of HD 2329, K 0307, UP 2565, K 9644, Kachu, JW 3020, MACS 6145, HI 8713, PBW 725, Raj 4037, WHB 1, VL 804 and Sujatawere higher and significantly superior than other wheat genotypes (figure 7).

Polyethylene glycol increase negative water potential and create drought like conditions which disrupts the enzymes activities and lower water imbibition which are essential for normal growth and germination of seeds. To tolerate PEG induced osmotic stress different wheat genotypes show differentiation. In present study wheat genotypes HI 8713, Raj 4037, MP 3288, K 0307, UP 2565, K 9644, JW 17, PBW 725, VL 804 and WHB 1 were significantly superior in maximum parameters compared to other wheat genotypes and has potential to produce drought tolerant wheat cultivars through plant breeding programmes.

5. CONCLUSIONS:

The screening and selection of drought tolerant wheat genotypes could boost the production and productivity and fulfil daily dietary needs of growing population globally. Growing drought tolerant wheat varieties mostly in arid and semi-arid regions, rain fed and deeper ground water label areas greatly increase the yield and lower the economic losses to the farmers. Wheat genotype HI 8713, Raj 4037, MP 3288, K 0307, UP 2565, K 9644, JW 17, PBW 725, VL 804 and WHB 1 better tolerated the osmotic stress in comparison to the other studied genotypes and has capability to perform more suitable under drought conditions.

Figure 1: Seed germination (%)

Figure 2: Shoot length (cm)

Figure 3: Root length (cm)

Figure 4: Fresh shoot weight (g)

Figure 5: Fresh root weight (g)

Figure 6: Dry shoot weight (g)

Figure 7: Dry root weight (g)

6. SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

In wheat producing countries growing drought tolerant varieties greatly increase the production and productivity which fulfil the global food requirement of burgeoning population. Screening of distinct wheat genotypes by PEG is the easy method and helpful for identification of drought tolerant varieties which has potential for advanced plant breeding programmes.

7. AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS:

Conceptualization, P.K. and B.F.; writing P.K.; original draft preparation, P.K.; writing—review and editing, P.K., B.F., S.S.S., P.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

8. FUNDING:

This research received no external funding.

9. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT:

Data has been shared in the MS and raw data will be supplied on request.

10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

We heartily thank LPU Phagwara for assisting in compiling the subjective material for writing this manuscript.

11. CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Received on 29.09.2023 Modified on 15.12.2023

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2024; 17(7):3256-3260.

DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2024.00510