Evaluation of cuticular wax deposition, stomata and carbohydrate of wheat leaves for screening drought tolerance

Drought is a serious problem which affects physiological traits of cereal crops. This research was conducted to evaluate variation of morpho- physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in wheat genotypes to use in breeding program. Six wheat genotypes were planted in Completely Randomized Factorial Design arrangement with two irrigation levels; severe drought stress 20% Field capacity (FC) and control (80% FC). Results of morphological traits showed that tolerant genotype had significantly higher relative water content (RWC), epicuticular wax load (EWL), Leaf electrical conductivity (LEC), Total water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), Starch and stomata frequency in severe drought stress than sensitive genotype, but Leaf electrical conductivity (LEC) and stomata frequency in tolerant genotype were lower than sensitive genotype. In drought stress, starch content was lower than control condition. G4 had most sucrose and glucose content leaf, but its fructose content was lowest. Also breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose, synthesis of WSC and starch and accumulation of EWL could be utilized as physiological markers for drought tolerance genotypes. Finally on the basis of morpho- physiological traits, G4 and G5 are drought tolerance and susceptible genotypes respectively.

[1]  B. Stewart,et al.  Genotypic Variation of Osmotic Adjustment, Water-use and Transpiration Efficiency among Closely Related Wheat Lines , 2012 .

[2]  S. Mayr,et al.  Drought and frost resistance of trees: a comparison of four species at different sites and altitudes , 2012, Annals of Forest Science.

[3]  F. Stoddard,et al.  The Determination of Direct and Indirect Effects of Carbon Isotope Discrimination (Δ), Stomatal Characteristics and Water Use Efficiency on Grain Yield in Wheat Using Sequential Path Analysis , 2011 .

[4]  M. Iqbal,et al.  Breeding for drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): constraints and future prospects , 2011 .

[5]  M. Azizi,et al.  Evaluation of Influences of Drought Stress in Terminal Growth Duration on Yield and Yield Components of Different Spring Brassica oilseed Species , 2011 .

[6]  N. Tuteja,et al.  Polyamines and abiotic stress tolerance in plants , 2010, Plant signaling & behavior.

[7]  S. Jamaati-e-Somarin,et al.  Study of relationships of leaf Relative Water Content, Cell Membrane Stability and duration of growth period with grain yield of lentil under rain-fed and irrigated conditions. , 2009 .

[8]  B. Šarapatka,et al.  Root distribution of winter wheat cultivars as affected by drought , 2008 .

[9]  A. Parida,et al.  Alterations in photosynthetic pigments, protein and osmotic components in cotton genotypes subjected to short-term drought stress followed by recovery , 2007, Plant Biotechnology Reports.

[10]  P. Rampino,et al.  Drought stress response in wheat: physiological and molecular analysis of resistant and sensitive genotypes. , 2006, Plant, cell & environment.

[11]  M. Teece,et al.  Increased Accumulation of Cuticular Wax and Expression of Lipid Transfer Protein in Response to Periodic Drying Events in Leaves of Tree Tobacco1[W] , 2005, Plant Physiology.

[12]  M. Stitt,et al.  An evaluation of direct and indirect mechanisms for the “sink-regulation” of photosynthesis in spinach: Changes in gas exchange, carbohydrates, metabolites, enzyme activities and steady-state transcript levels after cold-girdling source leaves , 2004, Planta.

[13]  D. This,et al.  QTL for relative water content in field-grown barley and their stability across Mediterranean environments , 2003, Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

[14]  H. Griffiths,et al.  Linking drought-resistance mechanisms to drought avoidance in upland rice using a QTL approach: progress and new opportunities to integrate stomatal and mesophyll responses. , 2002, Journal of experimental botany.

[15]  A. Patakas,et al.  Leaf age effects on solute accumulation in water-stressed grapevines , 2001 .

[16]  J. Willenbrink,et al.  Mobilization of fructan reserves and changes in enzyme activities in wheat stems correlate with water stress during kernel filling. , 2000, The New phytologist.

[17]  P. M. Neumann,et al.  Water-stressed maize, barley and rice seedlings show species diversity in mechanisms of leaf growth inhibition , 1998 .

[18]  M. Gallardo,et al.  Water relations, gas exchange and abscisic acid content of Lupinus cosentinii leaves in response to drying different proportions of the root system , 1994 .

[19]  H. Miyake,et al.  A Stomatal Impression Method Using a Fast-Sticking Adhesive , 1992 .

[20]  Abraham Blum,et al.  A Rapid Colorimetric Method for Epicuticular Wax Contest of Sorghum Leaves 1 , 1977 .

[21]  F. Smith,et al.  COLORIMETRIC METHOD FOR DETER-MINATION OF SUGAR AND RELATED SUBSTANCE , 1956 .

[22]  P. E. Weatherley STUDIES IN THE WATER RELATIONS OF THE COTTON PLANT , 1951 .