GROWTH, YIELD AND ANTIOXIDANTS STATUS OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) CULTIVARS UNDER WATER DEFICIT CONDITIONS

Water scarcity is one of the major impacts of climate change leading to great reduction in wheat crop yields all over the world. Therefore, identification of drought tolerant or sensitive wheat cultivars has become an essential approach to enhance the food production on sustainable basis. A study was planned to evaluate the potential of nine approved wheat cultivars [Fareed-2006, Millat-2011, Miraj-2008, AARI-2011, Lassani-2006, AAS-2011, Shafaq-2006, Sahar-2006 and Punjab-2011] against water deficit conditions on the basis of their antioxidants status. The cultivars were grown under water deficit and well-watered conditions (50% and 100% field capacity), respectively. The cultivars showed differential but statistically similar response during germination and seedling establishment under applied water treatments. Drought (50% field capacity) caused significant reduction in growth and yield contributing parameters i.e. plant height, number of grains per spike, 100 grain weight and grain yield per plant in all the wheat cultivars studied. However, performance of AARI-11 ensured the maximum yield and yield contributing components under deficit and normal watered conditions with more activities of enzymatic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) catalase (CAT)], higher contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants [ascorbic acid (AsA) and total phenolic contents (TPC)], also greater contents of leaf K+ and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll "a" and "b"). Nevertheless, antioxidants status was significantly higher at reproductive stages (booting and heading) as compared to vegetative stage (leaf initiation) in all the cultivars, under water deficit and well-watered conditions. Moreover, AARI-11 showed the major grain protein profiling determined through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-page). In the present study, the cultivar AARI-11 proved itself a drought tolerant cultivar with maximum productivity.