Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Induced Changes in Germination, Seedling Growth, Water Relation and α-β Amylase of some Hungarian Wheat Landraces Varieties

Abstract

Abstract Wheat productivity has been steadily declining over the past few years, and abiotic stresses are responsible for more than half of all yield losses. Stress from drought is one of the most significant factors that can impede plant growth and production wherever in the world. The main goal of this study was to examine how low water potential, which was caused by polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), on the germination and biochemical parameters of Hungarian wheat landraces. Seven Hungarian wheat landraces varieties (Szentesi; Nyirádi; Kiszombori; Háromfai; Tapiószelei; Nagykállói, and Szajlai) were tested for germination characteristics; seedling parameters; water relative content; tolerance index; and enzyme activities in the presence of different five concentrations of water stress (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20%) of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). At the Research Institute of Nyiregyhaza in Hungary, a laboratory experiment using Factorial Experiment in Randomized Completely Design (RCD) was carried out in four replicates. According to the data, the Háromfai landrace outperformed all other landraces under research and recorded the highest values of all analyzed features, followed by Tapiószelei; Kiszombori; Szajlai; Nyirádi; Szentesi and Nagykállói landraces varieties. All characteristics under study were significantly decreased as water stress concentrations (PEG 6000) were increased from 0 up to 20%. In comparison to other wheat landraces, Háromfai and Tapiószelei landraces varieties had the highest water relative content (WRC), tolerance index (TI), and α as well β-amylase amylase activities, and were able to induce better drought tolerance. These results suggest that these landraces could be a good resource for breeding programs and cultivation under drought stress conditions. Furthermore, the results of correlation analysis did not neither positive nor negative correlation between the Hungarian wheat landraces varieties and all of analyzed traits. On contrary, the correlation analysis results show negative correlation between the drought stress levels and studied traits.