Improving Growth and Yield of Wheat under Drought Stress via Application of SiO۲ Nanoparticles

Silicon (Si) and its derivatives have beneficial effects on a wide variety of plant species, especially under both biotic and abiotic stresses. Yet, their effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants under drought stress are not well known. Therefore, in order to evaluate the effects of SiO۲ NanoParticles (NPs) under drought stress, wheat seeds were separately sown in pots. Then, the SiO۲ NPs were added to them through soil and foliar application at three stages of plant growth. Results indicated that drought stress significantly decreased majority of the studied traits compared to the normal irrigation. Soil application of NPs, under drought stress, significantly increased leaf greenness (SPAD) and Relative Water Content (RWC) by ۱۲.۵۴ and ۸۴.۰۴%, respectively, compared to the control (NPs= ۰ ppm). Moreover, under drought stress, wheat yield also increased by ۲۵.۳۵ and ۱۷.۸۱%, respectively, by foliar and soil application of NPs. Under the same irrigation regimes, soil application of NPs significantly increased plant height and biomass compared to the foliar application of NPs. Finally, our results highlight that usage of the SiO۲ NPs, especially at rates of ۳۰ and ۶۰ ppm, can mitigate adverse effects of drought stress in wheat plants.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biomass ، Foliar application ، Grain protein ، Leaf area ، Relative water content ، SPAD. ، بیوماس ، خشکی ، پروتئین دانه ، سطح برگ ، عملکرد