Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of cytokinins on membrane stability and cell viability of wheat crop under PEG-induced drought condition

A. Kaur* and S.K. Thind

Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 001, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: aparjotranu@gmail.com

Key words

Cell viability

Cytokinins

Drought stress

Membrane stability

Polyethylene glycol

Publication Data

Paper received : 10.06.2017

Revised received : 29.09.2017

Re-revised received : 02.12.2017

Accepted : 22.04.2018

Abstract

Aim: The present study was carried out to examine the impact of foliar application of cytokinins [Kinetin (Kn) and Benzyl adenine (BA)] on membrane stability and cell viability of wheat seedlings, and their ability to sustain vigour and growth rate under physiological drought stress.      

Methodology: Twenty seeds were surface sterilized with 0.1% HgCl, and sown in each Petri-plate using distilled water. On 3^rd day, seedlings were shifted to Pertri-plates supplemented with PEG-6000 (-0.4Mpa) solution to induce drought stress. On 5^th day, foliar application of different Kn and BA concentration were given and data was recorded on 7 days after sowing for calculating the membrane thermal stability (MTS), to determine cell viability by Tetrazolium chloride test (TTC), relative growth rate (RGR). For vigour index (VI), seeds were directly sown in PEG supplemented Petri-plates. Germination per cent and epicotyl length were calculated following Kn and BA treatments on same day, except control. ???? 

Results: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced water deficit had significant (p≤0.05) negative effect on both MTS and cell viability of wheat seedlings. There was 27.04% more reduction of MTS in PBW660 over control. In the experiment, both Kn and BA increased MTS significantly in all the wheat genotypes. Application of Kn @ 40 ppm showed maximum MTS in HD2967 (94.6). With that application per cent increase was recorded more in PBW660 (25.47%). PEG induced drought reduced cell viability in all genotypes. In contrast, Kn and BA increased the viability of cells significantly (p≤0.05). Among the treatments, Kn @ 40 ppm promoted more physiological effect on all genotypes. PEG induced drought stress reduced maximum RGR in PBW658 by 35.29%, and VI in PBW660 by 28.62% as compared to control. Although higher the concentration of cytokinins, more was the positive effect, but Kn @ 40 ppm promoted more effect as compared to other concentrations of Kn and BA on seedling growth       

Interpretation: Kn and BA may be used in foliar mode to ameliorate the negative effects of water deficit stress on growth by sustaining membrane integrity and viability of cells of wheat seedlings.

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