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Paclobutrazol-induced alleviation of water-deficit damage in relation to photosynthetic characteristics and expression of stress markers in contrasting wheat genotypes

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Our experiment was conducted in order to find out effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ; 30 μl l–1) on morphology, photosynthetic process, and stress markers under water surplus and deficit conditions in several wheat genotypes. Study revealed that relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic rate, and maximal quantum yield of PSII (FV/FM) was improved after a PBZ application both under irrigation and water deficit across the genotypes, while the stomatal conductance was reduced. Further, the application of PBZ led to reduced leaf area in wheat genotypes. Moreover, a proline content was higher in the wheat genotypes under water stress as compared to the irrigated plants. The application of PBZ led to downregulation of the proline content under water deficit, while there was no significant change in the content and activity under irrigation with or without the PBZ treatment. These findings indicated that due to the application of PBZ the wheat genotypes might sense a lower stress level (indicated by the proline content) and better drought tolerance (according to RWC and photosynthetic characteristics).

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Abbreviations

bp:

base pairs

Chl:

chlorophyll

DAS:

days after sowing

DM:

dry mass

FM:

fresh mass

FV/FM :

maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry

g s :

stomatal conductance

LA:

leaf area

OD:

optical density

PBZ:

paclobutrazol

P N :

photosynthetic rate

P5CS:

pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase

RWC:

relative water content

Tm :

melting temperature

TM:

turgid mass

V:

volume

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Crop Research, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar, India, 800 014

    S. K. Dwivedi & S. Kumar

  2. Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, 110012

    Ajay Arora

Authors
  1. S. K. Dwivedi
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  2. Ajay Arora
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  3. S. Kumar
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Correspondence to S. K. Dwivedi.

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Acknowledgement: Financial assistance provided by ICAR is gratefully acknowledged.

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Dwivedi, S.K., Arora, A. & Kumar, S. Paclobutrazol-induced alleviation of water-deficit damage in relation to photosynthetic characteristics and expression of stress markers in contrasting wheat genotypes. Photosynthetica 55, 351–359 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0652-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-016-0652-5

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