Influences of drought and salt stress on grain quality of durum wheat

摘要

Drought and salinity are the most significant abiotic 'Stresses for plant agriculture that influence quantity and quality of plant production. This work aimed to assess the influences of drought and salinity stresses on grain quality characteristics of selected salt-tolerant genotypes of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.), derived from a direct (field) and indirect (in vitro) assessment methods for salinity tolerance. Eight durum wheat genotypes comprising 3 salt-tolerant genotypes and 1 salt-sensitive genotype derived from each of the methods were used. This study was conducted under controlled, drought and saline field conditions using three separate randomized complete block designs replicated three times. Protein content, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-sedimentation volume, wet gluten content, dry gluten content, 1000-grain weight and test weight were evaluated. The results showed a significant genotypic effect on the grain quality traits. There was a significant genotype by stress interaction for SDS sedimentation volume, 1000-grain weight and test weight. Both drought and salinity stresses significantly (P<0.01) influenced the grain quality characteristics. Comparison to control, drought and salt stress increased protein content by 12 % and 18 %, SDS sedimentation volume by 31 % and 66 %, wet gluten content by 20 % and 3 %, and dry gluten content by 20 % and 8 %, respectively. On the other hand, 1000-grain weight and test weight were reduced significantly under bothstress conditions. Base on combined data analysis, protein content had a significant and positive correlation with wet gluten, dry gluten and SDS sedimentation volume, whereas it showed a strong and negative correlation with 1000-grain weight and test weight.