The effect of growth regulators and irrigation on remobilization and grain filling of bread wheat in tropical climatic conditions

Abstract

To study the remobilization rate affected by growth regulators in wheat a field experiment was carried out in the south of Iran over 2017-2019 with a split-split plot design and three iterations in completely randomized blocks. The main plots were two irrigation regimes (full irrigation and irrigation interruption at the grain-filling stage), two wheat cultivars (Chamran 2 and Durum Karkheh cv.s) were as sub plots, and four growth regulators (control (no growth regulator), salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and cytokinin) placed in sub-sub plots. Results revealed the significant impact of the triple interaction on grain yield. The highest grain yield (4803 kg/Ha) was observed for Chamran 2 cv. treated with complete irrigation and salicylic acid. Although grain yield declined by 15.5% in the Karkheh cv. with irrigation interruption at the grain-filling stage and non-administration of growth regulators, treatment with salicylic acid managed to attenuate the adverse impact of drought stress in grain yield. The highest current photosynthesis and its contribution were observed in cultivars treated with complete irrigation. Moreover, irrigation regimen and growth regulators each had significant impacts on proline, catalase enzyme, and stomatal conductance. Overall, results suggested that using salicylic acid in Chamran 2 cv. would be advisable to increase growth and grain yield and reduce decline under stress.