Morpho-physiological and biochemical characterization of wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) sown at differential time intervals
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Date
2021-09
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a major staple food resource for the world’s population. In present scenario climate changes and elevated temperatures are the big issues that limit its production. An inappropriate timing or delay in sowing is also responsible for sudden elevation in air temperatures during sensitive growth stages of wheat life cycle. Being a winter crop, variability in climates is one of the biggest environmental threats to Indian wheat. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of elevated temperatures due to variation in sowing timings (November and December) on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters of 8 varieties of wheat namely; UP2628, HD3086, UP2967, UP2784, UP2526, UP2565, UP2748 and HD3059, conducted during the two consecutive years of Rabi season 2018-19 and 2019-20 in Pantnagar (tarai region). A delay of 30 days in sowing, results elevation in air temperatures; 3.7ºC at tillering, 1.9ºC at heading, 3.7ºC at anthesis and 2.9ºC at grain filling. The morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters, yield and yield related attributes, days taken to complete developmental stages were significantly reduced under December sown wheat varieties as compared to November sown wheat varieties. 3rd internodal distance was found affected by elevated temperatures as compared to 1st and 2nd. On comparing between sensitive growth stages; thermo tolerant traits such as relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll fluorescence, canopy temperatures, chlorophyll pigments and NR activity was significantly decreased during grain filling stage as compared to anthesis. While antioxidants and proline content were found increased as the varieties moves towards grain filling. Quality parameters, carbohydrates, starch and amylopectin were found negatively affected by elevated temperatures while grain nitrogen, storage proteins, amylose content, amylose to amylopectin ratio was positively influenced in December sown wheat varieties. Positive and significant correlation between grain yield and other parameters was found in wheat varieties sown in November while under December sown, relations between the grain yield and other parameters were significantly changed except the correlations among physiological traits, in which non-significant difference was observed between two sowing months.