The effect of soil drought and rehydration on growth and antioxidative activity in flag leaves of triticale

Changes in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase, together with growth parameters were investigated in flag leaves of four winter triticale cultivars. Water stress was applied during shooting (D-s) or heading (D-h) stage. Dry matter of the main shoot and tillers was similarly restricted by both drought periods. The length of the main shoot was more constrained by D-s, in contrast to the number of tillers, restricted strongly by D-h. The resumption of growth after rehydration was clearer in cvs. Bogo and Tewo, and hence these two cultivars were considered more drought-resistant than Presto and Ugo. Neither catalase nor superoxide dismutase activity was influenced by the term of the drought and the genotype.