INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF PH AND TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN T. aestivum and T. durum VARIETIES

Wheat production is adversely affected by extreme temperature and pH. Moreover, combination of temperature and pH, have a prominent effect on plant growth and development. In the present study seven days old wheat varieties of Triticum aestivum (HI1418, HI1500, HI1531, HI1544, HI1563, HD2932) and Triticum durum (HD4672, HI8381, HI8498, HI8627, HI8663, HI8737) were evaluated for nine combination of different pH (4.0, 5.0, 6.0) and temperature (10°, 20°, 30°C). Seedling were supplemented with one-fourth strength hoag land nutrient solution in static hydroponic condition. Effect of temperature was more prominent in fresh tissue weight, length and chlorophyll concentration. The fresh shoot tissue weight, length and chlorophyll content increased at 20°C and 30°C for all the varieties of T. aestivum and T. durum. While root weight and length marginally affected in both species. Effect of pH was visible for NR activity, protein and proline content. NR activity decreased at pH 6 with increase in temperature whereas at pH 4 and 5 increase in activity was observed up to 20°C in T. aestivum and T. durum varieties. Protein content in shoot tissue of T. aestivum was observed high at pH 4 temperature 10°C while in, root tissue it was pH5 temperature 20°C except HI1544. Whereas in T. durum high protein content was observed at pH 6 temperature 20°C. High proline content was observed at 10°C in both species which decreased with increase in temperature except HI1544, HI1563 and HD2932 at pH4. High protein and low proline content was observed in T. durum as compared T. aestivum. Moreover, at pH 5 low proline and high protein content was observed in HD 4672, HI 8498 and HI 8737 varieties, thus maybe potentially cultivated on non-arable land.