Comparative study of basal thermo tolerant attributes in tolerant and susceptible wheat cultivars

Abstract

Two wheat cultivars, viz. C306 and HT41, have been evaluated for their responses to heat stress in terms of some biochemical and physiological attributes. During the exposure to high temperature (40°C for 6 and 12 h), a significant reduction in RWC and FW was recorded in HT41 which was also associated with heat susceptibility. The detrimental effects of high temperature were also apparent in terms of lipid peroxidation, chlorophyll content, H2O2 generation and electrolyte leakage and these were more pronounced in HT 41. Accumulation of osmolytes like proline, total sugar increased due to heat injury and also varied between the two cultivars. In this present study evaluation and analysis of these biochemical and physiological characters under heat stress could unravel the mechanism of basal thermotolerance and thus might be useful as genetic stock to develop wheat tolerant varieties.