Abstract
The foliar application of gibberellins (GA(3)), neem leaf extract (NLE) and serine can be proven as effective growth regulating agents to counter drought stress-related deleterious effects. The literature about the collaborative role of these substances in foliar spray application under drought stress is not available to this date. No single report is available in literature on combine foliar application of GA(3), NLE, and serine in improving wheat growth and yield under drought-triggered oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to induct tolerance against drought stress in order to sustain maximum growth and yield of wheat varieties (Anaj-2017 and Galaxy-2013) with foliar applications of GA(3), NLE, and serine. The current field trial was designed to disclose the protective role of these substances in wheat varieties (Anaj-2017 and Galaxy-2013) under water-deficit stress. Two irrigation levels, i.e., control (normal irrigation) and water stress (water deficit irrigation), and 5 levels of GA(3), NLE and serine i.e., control (water spray), GA(3) (10.0 ppm), NLE (10.0%), serine (9.5 mM), and mixture (GA(3) + NLE + serine) in a 1:1:1 ratio was applied. Application of these substances improved the pigments (Chlorophyll a, b), carotenoids, growth, biomass, and grain yield traits of both wheat varieties under water-deficit stress. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (POD, CAT and SOD), and non-enzymatic antioxidants (proline, total phenolic contents, anthocyanin and free amino acids) were up-regulated under drought stress and with foliar spray treatments. The foliar applications of these substances reduced the drought triggered overproduction of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and H(2)O(2). The study found that Galaxy-2013 variety is more tolerant to drought stress than Anaj-2017, while co-applied treatments (GA(3) + NLE + serine) were shown to be the most effective among all applications. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01402-9.