Drought stress effects on water relations of wheat

Abstract

Drought effects on the water relations of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were evaluated. Four cultivars, Kanchan, Sonalika, Kalyansona, and C306, were grown in pots and subjected to four levels of water stress at vegetative or anthesis stages or both. Exposure of plants to drought led to noticeable decreases in leaf water potential and relative water content with a concurrent increase in leaf temperature. The higher leaf water potential and relative water content as well as lower leaf temperature were associated with a higher photosynthetic rate. Drought stressed plants displayed higher canopy temperature than well-watered plants at both vegetative growth and anthesis growth stages. Successive stresses at both developmental stages raised the canopy temperature much higher than in plants stressed only once.