Physiological response of bread wheat ('Triticum aestivum' L.) to high temperature and moisture stresses

Water scarcity and temperature variability are major constraints of wheat productivity and food security in the context of climate change. The impact of temperature and water variability at anthesis of spring wheat was studied in field experiments conducted during 2008-09 and 2009-10. Five wheat cul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian Journal of Crop Science Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 749 - 755
Main Authors M Ahmed, F U Hassan, M Asif
Format Journal Article
Published Lismore, N.S.W Southern Cross Publishers 01.04.2012
Subjects
Effect of soil moisture on
Environmental aspects
Growth
Plants
Water requirements
Wheat
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Summary:Water scarcity and temperature variability are major constraints of wheat productivity and food security in the context of climate change. The impact of temperature and water variability at anthesis of spring wheat was studied in field experiments conducted during 2008-09 and 2009-10. Five wheat cultivars viz; Chakwal-50, Wafaq-2001, GA-2002, NARC-2009 (NR-268 line in 2008) and Tatara were sown in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Physiological parameters i.e. net photosynthesis (An), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) and stomatal resistance (rs) were recorded. The results indicate a reduction in An, gs, Ci and rs and an increase in E due to high temperature and moisture stress. Among genotypes, NARC-2009 produced highest grain yield and exhibited maximum photosynthetic rate which was positively related to gs, Ci and inversely related to rs and E. Rise in temperature and moisture stress at anthesis led to the reduction in photosynthesis, thereby, reducing biomass and grain yield. Therefore, genotypes having better physiological performance under abiotic stresses need to be considered for cultivation under changing environmental conditions. In our study, NARC-2009 performed best and we recommend its cultivation for areas having high temperature and moisture stresses. The values of all physiological attributes (An, E, gs, Ci and rs) were higher during the first year (2008-09) as compared to the second (2009-10) which was mainly due to the relatively low temperature and higher moisture availability during the first year.
Bibliography:Australian Journal of Crop Science, Vol. 6, No. 4, Apr 2012, 749-755
Informit, Melbourne (Vic)
ISSN:1835-2693