Effects of biofertilizers and cycocel on some physiological and biochemical traits of wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>L.) under salinity stress

Abstract

In order to study the effects of biofertilizers and cycocel on some physiological and biochemical characteristics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salinity condition, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications under greenhouse condition in 2015. Treatments were included salinity in four levels [no salt (control or S0), salinity 30 (S1), 60 (S2) and 90 (S3) mM NaCl equivalent of 2.76, 5.53 and 8.3 dS m−1, respectively], four biofertilizers levels [no biofertilizer (F0), seed inoculation by Azotobacter chrocoocum strain 5 (F1), Pseudomonas putida strain 186 (F2), both inoculation Azotobacter + Pseudomonas (F3)] and three cycocel levels [without cycocel as control (C0), application of 600 (C1) and 1000 (C2) mg L−1]. Results showed that salinity severe stress (90 mM) decreased chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll, photochemical efficiency of PSII and yield of wheat. Whereas, soluble sugars and proline content, electrical conductivity (EC), the activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes were increased. Similar results were observed in CAT, POD and PPO activities due to inoculation by biofertilizers and cycocel. Salinity at 30 mM increased the photochemical efficiency of PSII and chlorophyll content in plants grown under biofertilizer and cycocel treatment but with increasing salinity up to 90 mM mentioned parameters were decreased. The highest proline and soluble carbohydrate at all salinity levels were observed in plants treated in the highest cycocel level and Azotobacter+ Pseudomonas application. Generally, it was concluded that biofertilizers and cycocel can be used as a proper tool for increasing wheat yield under salinity condition.