Influence of repeated water stress on wheat

Abstract

Fertility-induced performance alterations in wheat (cv Kalyansona) have been evaluated under two cycles of droughts at various developmental stages and also repeated droughts. The significant alleviation of growth and yield, despite the higher stress experienced by plants under improved soil fertility, seems to be related to larger root growth and greater post-drought nutrient uptake and not to favourable tissue water modulations. Limited wet-period interludes, under repeated stress, reduced these advantages. Stress-mediated increases in proline and free aminoacids and decline in chlorophyll content in leaves followed established trends. Their levels, however, were relatively higher under better soil fertility. The proline accumulation was reduced in the second cycle of drought, as compared to the first, indicating an absence of hardening effect.