RESPONSE OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L. VAR. GALAXY-2013) TO PRE-SOWING SEED TREATMENT WITH THIOUREA UNDER DROUGHT STRESS

A pot experiment was performed to assess the effect of thiourea (TU) as pre-sowing seed treatment to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under drought stressed conditions. Seeds of wheat variety named Galaxy-2013 were soaked in various TU levels such as non-soaking (control), water-soaking, 0.1 mM and 1.0 mM thiourea for 12 hours. Drought stress treatments i.e., non stress (100 % field capacity), moderate drought stress (70% FC) and severe drought stress (50% FC) were applied to one week old wheat seedlings. Data of different growth and physicochemical parameters was taken of seven-week-old wheat plants whereas yield was taken at the maturity stage. Drought stress considerably reduced shoot fresh weight, dry weight of shoot, fresh weight of root, shoot length, root length, grain yield plant-1, 100-grain weight, number of grains plant1, total phenolics and total flavonoid contents, while increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline and glycinebetaine contents. Pre-sowing seed treatment with varying levels of thiourea showed differential effect under drought stress or non stress conditions e.g., under moderate drought stress (70% FC) both 0.1 mM and 1.0 mM TU increased shoot dry weight and decreased total phenolic contents. Furthermore, 0.1 mM TU enhanced root dry weight, while 1.0 mM TU increased proline contents. In conclusion, hydro-priming proved more effective in increasing shoot and root fresh and dry weights, shoot length, total leaf area plant-1, grain yield and number of grains plant-1 in wheat var. Galaxy-2013 plants under drought stress or non stress conditions.