The effect of drought stress on Triticosecale rimpaui growth and crop yield production

Profitability and plant development are mostly impaired by drought. Triticale (X. Triticosecale rimpaui) is one of the most successful man-made cereals, synthesized to combine unique wheat grain quality with rye's stress tolerance. In this study, T. rimpaui plant was exposed to regular water supply (100% FC) and three stages of water shortage (75%, 50%, and 25% FC). Soil properties and growth characteristics of T. rimpaui in the vegetative growth stage and agronomical parameters at the crop yield stage under different water gradients were determined. The results showed that the soil's pH value significantly decreased to values lesser than control's only under moderate and severe water deficiency-induced stress conditions. Plant growth and plant pigments content reduced gradually with the increase of drought stress conditions to values lower than that of the control's (100% FC). Soluble carbohydrates and free amino acids' shoot contents were not affected significantly by all studied water stress levels compared with the controls. In the grains, carbohydrates significantly decreased only under moderate and severe water stress conditions. Soluble proteins in the shoots and grains were gradually decreased under all studies' drought levels. It was clear that drought stress less affected triticale's yield when crosschecked with vegetative growth.