Chlorophyll fluorescence, yield and yield components of bread wheat affected by phosphate bio-fertilizer, zinc and boron under late-season heat stress

Abstract

We examined effects of late-season heat stress (L-SHS) on chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters and yield of bread wheat as well as roles of phosphate bio-fertilizer (PB-F) and Zn and B to compensate for the likely effects of heat stress. Factors were planting date (21 November and 5 January to coincide with grain filling to L-SHS) as the main factor, no inoculation (control) and inoculation of the seeds with PB-F as the sub-factor, and foliar application of water (control), Zn, B, and Zn + B as 3 L ha-1 as sub-sub factor. Results revealed that L-SHS reduced maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, efficiency of PSII in the light-adapted state, and the grain yield. Moreover, L-SHS increased the nonphotochemical quenching. The PB-F mitigated the effects of L-SHS on Chl fluorescence, yield, and yield components. Among nutrients, the combined Zn + B was more effective in reducing the effects of L-SHS than that of Zn and B alone. Nevertheless, there was an interaction between foliar nutrients application and PB-F, suggesting that Zn application alone had a profound influence on improving Chl fluorescence parameters and increased yield in combination with PB-F.