Morpho-physiological attributes of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes as influenced by brassinosteroids under heat stress

Abstract

High temperature is major environmental factor that limits productivity of cereal crops all over the world. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), one of the main staple cereal crops, is highly sensitive to heat stress. Heat stress adversely affects the morpho-physiological parameters, viz., germination, total leaf area, total dry weight and yield at different growth stage of plant. In this investigation heat was induced at early and late sowing of two wheat genotypes, viz., HUW-468, C-306.Prior to sowing, seeds of both the wheat genotypes were hardened with 2,4 epi brassinolide (BR) @1.0 µM for 6 hours and foliar application at pre-flowering stage with a view to alleviating the deleterious effect of heat stress on morpho-physiological parameters of plants.