Effect of foliar application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in water deficit irrigation on some morphological and physiological traits and wheat yield

In this study, the effects of application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles under water deficit irrigation stress in the pre-flowering and grain filling stages on wheat were investigated. For this purpose, this plant was sprayed with %0.02 titanium dioxide in tillering and heading stages and some traits such as plant height, leaf area index, number of fertile tillers, number of seeds, 1000 seed weight, biological yield, harvest index, relative leaf water content, total chlorophyll content, proline and malondialdehyde content and ascorbate peroxidase as well as superoxide dismutase activity were examined. The results showed the positive effects of the application of these nanoparticles on the vegetative and reproductive growth of wheat under normal conditions and stress, so that under drought stress increased the number of fertile tillers, increased the number of seeds  and 1000 seed weight was compared with the non-application of nanoparticles under stress conditions.Under normal conditions and low irrigation stress, application of these nanoparticles during tillering had more favorable effects on vegetative and functional characteristics of the plant compared to the clustering time and increased wheat harvest index in drought conditions. On the other hand, the application of titanium nanoparticles effectively reduced the adverse effects of drought stress in the pre-flowering and grain filling periods whereas increased proline activity. Recent events have increased the ability of wheat to withstand drought stress.