Silicon Mitigates Drought Stress in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Through Improving Photosynthetic Pigments, Biochemical and Yield Characters

Feeling prone to stress differs with plant production stage, water scarcity near commencement of grain filling phase has a significant reduced grain yield through fewer endosperm and sink cells capacity that minimize the accumulation of dry matter and assimilates supplies. In greenhouse research was conducted to investigate the part of silicon (Si) in regulating the production, yield and physico-chemical traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under drought situation. Two commercial good varieties of wheat (Chakwal-50 and Sehar-06) were planted under well water (100% FC) and water stress conditions (60% FC) pooled with Si 3 mM (seed priming), 1 mM (fertilization) and 4 mM (foliar application). In tillering and anthesis stage, yield and yield elements, leaf pigments, gaseous exchange parameters, biochemical and nutrients were analyzed from the wheat plants. The stress of water deficit prompted a marked reduction in agronomic parameters while biochemical attributes were increased under conditions of water stress except for total soluble proteins. The effect of Si was found to be positive at both the stages under well-watered and drought affected wheat plants. At anthesis stage, foliarly applied Si enhanced biochemical attributes and accumulation of nutrients under the stress of water deficit and normal water plants, respectively. Under normal conditions, the most successful method was the taking of leaf Ca by Si foliar spray at anthesis level. Applied with no Si the water stressed plants retained the optimum concentration of Fe. Here as well, Si fertigation under well water condition was found to be better for studied agronomic parameters at the tillering stage. It may be included that Si application improves plant biochemical attributes, absorbs nutrients and shows higher growth rate which ultimately helps the plant mitigate the drought-stressing effects. At the anthesis stage, foliar spray was stronger while at the tillering stage, fertigation produced good results.