Changes of morphofunctional traits of Triticum aestivum and Triticum dicoccum seedlings caused by polyethylene glycol-modeling drought

Abstract

Wheat genus belongs to the main grain crops in Ukraine and in the world. An important element of its cultivation technology, which affects productivity, is the use of high yield varieties resistant to biotic and abiotic stressors. Therefore, the aim of a study was evaluation of polyethylene glycol-modeling drought stress adaptive responses of different varieties of wheat germs (Triticum aestivum and Triticum dicoccum) on such parameters as water shortages, relative water content, roots damage membranes and dehydrogenase activity and photosynthetic pigments content. Studied varieties of common bred wheat and emmer wheat presented resilience-anisohydric response maintaining high relative water content, increasing of root length / shoot length ratio and maintaining the ratio of photosynthetic pigments in response to drought with marked differences among the varieties. According to the result of the research Holikovska variety (Triticum dicoccum) is the most drought- resistant variety which makes it promising for use in breeding for drought tolerance. Because of resilience-anisohydric behaviour patterns might be the beneficial strategy for growing under drought stress conditions.