Foliar-Applied GR24 and Salicylic Acid Enhanced Wheat Drought Tolerance

Phytohormones salicylic acid and strigolactones play critical roles in mediating plant responses to environmental stress including drought stress. This study investigated whether foliar application of salicylic acid and strigolactones in the form of GR24 will improve the drought tolerance of winter wheat (T-riticum aestivumL.) plants. Exogenous application of strigolactone and salicylic acid increased proline and soluble sugar content as well as stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration rate of wheat plants. Higher amounts of all above mentioned characteristics are indicative of the higher drought tolerance of hormone-treated plants. In this experiment, application of hormones decreased the drought-induced rise in the content of H(2)O(2)a factor known to lead to membrane lipid peroxidation, toxicity, and cell death. Hormones external application dampened leaf water potential that contributes to plant-level physiological drought tolerance. Drought tolerance features magnified when we used both hormones together. Our finding suggests that hormonal application can improve osmotic adjustment and decrease adverse effects of drought stress on wheat plants.