Vol. 9, Issue 11 (2020)

Author(s):
Dommalapati Sudhakara Rao, Midathala Raghavendra, Parveen Gill, Shashi Madan and Renu Munjal

Abstract:
Drought stress induced plant physiological responses were studied in two wheat varieties viz. WH 1105 and WH 1025 because drought is a major threat for crop productivity. Plant physiological parameters such as relative water content (RWC), osmotic potential, chlorophyll ratio and SPAD-chlorophyll contents were determined in leaf samples during grain filling period under drought stress. Relative water content and osmotic potential were decreased in both wheat varieties, however more decrease was observed in WH 1105 than WH 1025. Osmotic potentials of 0.75 - 1.00 Mpa and 0.82 - 1.20 Mpa were observed in WH 1025 and WH 1105 respectively under drought condition. Chlorophyll concentration is an index for evaluation of source sink relationship. The maximum chlorophyll a/b ratio of 4.61 was obtained in WH 1025 at 7^th DAA and decreased from 7^th to 28^th DAA in both wheat varieties. Reduction in the ratio was more in WH 1105 than WH 1025 under drought stress. Reduction in chlorophyll content (SPAD units) was noticed at 28th days after anthesis (DAA) in both varieties.