Wheat Cultivar Growth, Biochemical, Physiological and Yield Attributes Response to Combined Exposure to Tropospheric Ozone, Particulate Matter Deposition and Ascorbic Acid Application.

Abstract

In the present study wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar HD 2967 was exposed to ambient and elevated levels of O3 and PM deposition, with and without exogenous application of ascorbic acid (AA). Cultivar HD 2967 exposed to eight treatments in free air O3 enrichment facility and the assessed results showed that wheat cultivar, growth, biochemical, physiological and yield attributes were variably but adversely affected by combined exposure to O3 and PM deposition. PM deposition clogged stomata and enhanced leaf temperature. However, plants exposed to O3 and PM deposition and treated with AA exhibited less reduction in yield as compared to plants exposed to O3 and PM deposition without AA treatment. The decline in grain yield of HD 2967 due to combined exposure of O3 and PM deposition were in the range of 4%-17%. AA spray partially mitigated ozone and PM deposition adverse impact and enhanced wheat yield by 16%.