Studies on role of proline, hydrogen peroxide and total antioxidant activity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under drought stress after anthesis

Abstract

The investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of drought stress on role of proline, hydrogen peroxide and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of two wheat varieties viz. WH 1105 (Drought sensitive) and WH 1025 (Drought sensitive) after anthesis. Drought was given by only pre sown irrigation. Analysis of data revealed that drought stress results an increase in proline and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents in leaves and developing grains of both wheat varieties after anthesis, however more increase in imino amino acid proline was observed in WH 1025 which is ascribed to improved drought tolerance through osmotic adjustment of cellular contents. Drought sensitive wheat variety WH 1105 had accumulated higher hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) than WH 1025. Stress tolerance to plants is determined by the pool size of antioxidants and protective plant pigments particularly carotenoids. This study also revealed that the total antioxidant activity (TAA) was increased in leaves and developing grains of both wheat varieties with higher and significant increase in WH 1025 than WH 1105.