Effect of rhizobacteria and cytokinins application on wheat growth and yield under normal vs drought conditions. Issue 20 (13th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zaheer, Muhammad Saqlain; Raza, Muhammad Aown Sammar; Saleem, Muhammad Farrukh; Erinle, Kehinde O.; Iqbal, Rashid; Ahmad, Salman
• Is Part Of: Communications in soil science and plant analysis. Volume 50:Issue 20(2019)
• Page Start: 2521
• Page End: 2533
• Publication Date: 2019-11-13
• Subjects: Antioxidants -- crop yield -- drought -- growth stages -- phytohormones; Soil science -- Periodicals; Plants -- Chemical analysis -- Periodicals; Agricultural chemistry -- Periodicals; 631.405
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2019.1667376
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-3624

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Drought is a major constraint for agricultural productivity worldwide, and it is likely to further increase. Different strategies are required to mitigate drought stress in plants. In a two-year study that conducted at agronomic research area of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, we investigated the role of rhizobacteria (RB) and cytokinins (Ck) on drought tolerance, nutrient uptake, yield, and physiological parameters in wheat under drought stress at different developmental stages (tillering, anthesis, and grain filling). Thirteen treatments used were well-watered control plants without RB or Ck, drought at tillering, anthesis, or grain filling without or with RB alone, Ck alone, or combination of both (RB+Ck). In both years, and at the different stages, measured parameters were highest in the well-watered plants but lowest in drought-stressed plants. Application of RB and Ck to drought-stressed plants increased these parameters in the order RB+Ck > RB > Ck. In some cases, under drought stress, there was no difference between inoculation with RB and application of Ck. It was concluded that the combined application of RB and Ck could play a significant role in improving wheat yield and also alleviation of stress under drought condition.