Assessment of drought tolerance of eight varieties of common winter wheat a comparative study

Zlatina Uhr, Anelia Dobrikova, Preslava Borisova,Ekaterina Yotsova, Evgeny Dimitrov, Radoslav Chipilsky and Antoaneta V. Popova

Abstract: The ability of eight Bulgarian common winter wheat varieties (Sadovska belya, Lusil, Diamant, Bononia Tsarevets, Niky, Guinness and Petya) to tolerate drought stress as well as to recover after re-watering were evaluated by following the alterations in the leave pigment content, generation of hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, and levels of synthesized protective substances (anthocyanins). These parameters were used as fast and sensitive stress markers to assess varieties` susceptibility to drought. Results presented indicated that on the 7th day of dehydration alteration in the photosynthetic pigment content occurred as indicated by the decreased chlorophyll to carotenoid ratio showing that the amount of total chlorophylls was changed to a higher extent than that of carotenoids. Data demonstrated that the amount of stress-generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was highest in Guinness, followed by Petya, Lusil and Tsarevets. The extend of membrane damage evidenced by the degree of dehydration-induced lipid peroxidation was highest in varieties Sadovska belya, Petya and Tsarevets. Furthermore, all investigated varieties responded to drought stress by increased synthesis of anthocyanins. Our results also suggested that varieties Guinness and Diamant were suitable for growing in areas with limited water availability as they have a good drought stress resistance and recovery capacity.

Keywords: anthocyanins; drought stress; oxidative stress; photosynthetic pigments; recovery; wheat variety

Date published: 2022-08-29