Growth and growth indices of durum wheat as influenced by seed soaking and foliar spray of stress mitigating bio-regulators under conserved soil moisture condition

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of seed soaking and foliar spray of stress- mitigation bio-regulators on growth and growth indices of durum wheat under conserved moisture condition of Bhal tract of Gujarat in rabi season cultivation 2017-18 & 2108-19. The experiment was done in randomized block design (factorial) with four replications, two factors & four levels, (A) Seed soaking (S0: No seed soaking, S1: Seed soaking with water, S2: Seed soaking with salicylic acid (100 ppm) & S3: Seed soaking with thiourea (500 ppm)), (B) Foliar spray (C0: No spray, C1: Water spray, C2: Salicylic acid spray (100 ppm) & C3: Thiourea spray (1000 ppm)). The foliar spray of stress- mitigation bio-regulators was done on tillering and ear emergence stages of crop. The impact of seed soaking & foliar spray with salicylic acid (100 ppm) was found significant over control in respect to plant height at 60 and 90 DAS and at harvest, dry matter accumulation at 60 and 90 DAS and at harvest, Crop growth rate (CGR) at 30-60 DAS, 60-90 DAS and 90 DAS to harvest, Relative growth rate (RGR) at 30-60 DAS, 60-90 DAS and 90 DAS to harvest, Leaf area index (LAI) at 90 DAS, Leaf area ratio (LAR) at 30-60 DAS and 60-90 DAS and in case of net assimilation rate (NAR) the significant data was found seed soaking with salicylic acid (100 ppm) at 30-60 DAS and 60-90 DAS. The study clearly indicated that seed soaking & foliar spray with salicylic acid (100 ppm) was performed better than over control.