Evaluation of Drought Stress on Relative Water Content, Chlorophyll Content and Mineral Elements of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties

ABSTRACT: Drought, one of the environmental stresses, is the most significant factor restricting plant production on majority of agricultural fields of world. Wheat is grown on arid-agricultural fields and drought often causes serious problems in wheat production on these fields. In order to evaluate drought stress on relative water content (RWC), mineral elements and chlorophyll content of wheat varieties, an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in 2008 in Karaj region, Iran. Treatments were 6 wheat varieties Sardari, Kavir, Varinac (as resistant var.), Marvdasht, Tajan and Ghods, (as susceptible var.). Drought stress was applied by withholding water at anthesis stage. The results showed that chlorophyll content, RWC, ions concentration of K and Na made difference between resistance and susceptible genotypes. Thus, this attributes can be used as screening tool for drought tolerance in wheat.