Vol. 11, Issue 10 (2022)

Author(s):
K Ramakrishna, PK Lokhande, US Dalvi, SG Mohite and RM Naik

Abstract:
Wheat is important staple food crop of the world, exposed to drought stress thereby reduces crop yield. Salicylic acid is an important signal molecule involved in the activation of plant defense responses against abiotic and biotic stresses and plays a crucial role for the regulation of physiological and biochemical processes. Thiourea has great implications in changing plant growth both under normal and stressful conditions. Being water-soluble and readily absorbable in living tissues, exogenous application of thiourea at appropriate concentrations is suggested to have multiple roles both under optimal and sub optimal conditions. Based on biochemical studies, foliar spray of 50 μM salicylic acid and 50 μM thiourea was found to be effective in retaining the RLWC of C-306 and NI-5439 amongst 50, 100 and 200μM concentrations of salicylic acid and thiourea. However, for wheat genotype Trimbak 200 μM salicylic acid and 100 μM thiourea was found to be effective. Foliar spray of 50 μM salicylic acid was found to be slightly effective in retaining the chlorophyll content of all the three genotypes and the effect was more prominent in Trimbak. As compared to 50,100 and 200 μM salicylic acid and thiourea concentrations foliar spray of salicylic acid and thiourea increased leaf proline content and the effect was more prominent at 50 μM salicylic acid and 200 μM thiourea. Foliar spray of salicylic acid and thiourea increased lipid peroxidation rate and the effect was more prominent at 200 μM salicylic acid and 100 μM thiourea in all the three genotypes. Antioxidative enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase shown significant increase under stress. The spray of 50 μM salicylic acid and thiourea increased the Antioxidative enzyme activity. The present work revealed that as compared to all the treatments to the genotypes under drought stress condition the lower concentration 50 μM salicylic acid and thiourea shown significant results.