Abstract
Coincidence of heat with terminal stages of wheat is chief constraint to accomplish yield potential. The present study was aimed at comparing thermo-sensitivity of terminal stages, optimizing foliar potassium to alleviate heat and exploring association of metabolites with agronomic attributes. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design under split arrangement and repeated over 2 years. Treatments comprised heat stress imposition in main plots viz. H0 = No heat stress; H1 = heat imposition from spike initiation to grain filling initiation and H2 = heat imposition from flowering initiation to grain filling initiation and foliar potassium (K) in sub plots viz. K0 = Water spray (control), K15 = 15 g L−1 K; K30 = 30 g L−1 K; K45 = 45 g L−1 K and K60 = 60 g L−1 K. Imposition of ‘H1’ proved more deleterious for metabolites, water relations and agronomic attributes compared to ‘H0’ and ‘H2’. Application of 45 g L−1 K proved beneficial for enhancing the synthesis of phenolics, proline, soluble proteins and for improving water potential under ‘H0’. While, 60 g L−1 K induced more promising responses in these attributes under ‘H1’ and ‘H2’. Application of 45 and 60 g L−1 K proved equally effective for improvement of agronomic traits compared to other doses over H0, ‘H1’ and ‘H2’. Decisively, more promising responses were observed with 45 g L−1 potassium under ‘H0’ and 60 g L−1 potassium under ‘H1’ and ‘H2’. Agronomic attributes were strongly associated with biochemical parameters.
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Acknowledgements
We genially applaud the economic backing of the study from Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. We want to express our gratitude to Analytical Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan and Medicinal Plants Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan for technical support during experimental work. All authors have read the manuscript and authors have no conflict of interest to depict.
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MS: Conducted and planned the research work, recorded and analyzed data and compiled the manuscript. MFS: Supervised the conduct and planning of research work, record and statistical analysis data and writeup of the manuscript. AS: Helped in statistical analysis of data. MS: Helped in record of biochemical attributes. AH: Facilitated the record of biochemical attributes.
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Shahid, M., Saleem, M.F., Saleem, A. et al. Improving the Spike Initiation and Flowering Stage Heat Tolerance in Bread Wheat Through Foliar Application of Potassium. J Plant Growth Regul 42, 2943–2959 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-022-10758-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-022-10758-3