Effect of antitranspirants on seed yield and photosynthetic properties of two wheat cultivars under drought stress

To investigate the effect of antitranspirants on some physiological characteristics of wheat such as photosynthesis and total chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b), percent of seed protein, seed yield, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic water use efficiency under drought stress, a split plot experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications during 2015-2016 at Miandoab Agriculture Research Station, West Azarbaijan. Irrigation factors (complete irrigation, irrigation withholding at heading stages and flowering stages) were main plots and foliar applications of antitranspirants (Prometrin, Kaolin, Tmatrom, Chitosan and control) and two cultivars of wheat (Zarin and Mihan) were sub plots. Results showed that prometrin treatment in irrigation withholding at flowering stage increased photosynthesis at 2 μmol Co2 m-2 s-1 compared to control. The highest total chlorophyll content (4.69 µg/g FW) was belonged to foliar application of chitosan at irrigation withholding at heading stage and the highest chlorophyll a was observed at chitosan treatment (2.42 µg/g FW). Foliar application of chitosan in Zarin cultivar at irrigation withholding at heading stage treatment had the highest chlorophyll b content. Chitosan treatment had the highest protein content at the irrigation withholding at flowering stage (12.27 mg/g DW) and increased yield by 868 kg/ha compared to control in Mihan cultivar. The lowest transpiration rate was obtained at irrigation withholding stage (3.83 mM H2O m-2 s-1). The results showed that the effects can be variable depending on the time of stress and the type of cultivar, Antitranspirants, especially chitosan, could improve the photosynthetic properties of wheat (Mihan cultivar) and seed yield under drought stress condition.