Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Induced Water Stress on Germination and Seedling Growth of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The performance of twenty wheat genotypes under Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) induced water stress during germination and early seedling growth stages were tested under three levels of water potential i) Control (Tap water), ii) -2 bars and iii) -4 bar at the Crop Physiology and Ecology Laboratory of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during September 2014 to October 2014. Rate of germination and vigor index of all wheat genotypes were delayed with the increment of water stress induced by PEG. Shoot and root lengths and seedling dry weight of 10 days old seedlings were found to be reduced due to the increment of water stress. However, the degree of reduction of these parameters with the increment of water stress was not similar for all wheat genotypes. Stress tolerance index (STI) based on seedling dry weight indicated a wide difference in stress tolerance among the wheat genotypes. At moderate water deficit stress, BARI Gom 25, E 34, E 28 and BAW 1170 showed more stress tolerance and the wheat genotypes- Sourav, E 23 and BAW 1140 showed greater stress sensitivity than the other wheat genotypes. At higher water deficit stress, BARI Gom 25, BARI Gom 28, E 28 and BAW 1170 showed more stress tolerance and the wheat genotypes- Satabdi, Sourav, BARI Gom 26, E 23, E 38, E 24, BAW 1163, BAW 1140 and BAW 1151 showed greater stress sensitivity than the others. Considering both moderate and high water deficit stress, BARI Gom 25, E 28 and BAW 1170 were found as tolerant and Sourav, E 23 and BAW 1140 were found as water deficit stress sensitive wheat genotypes. The Agriculturists 2017; 15(1) 81-91