To reveal the integrative biochemical networks of wheat leaves in response to water deficient conditions, proteomics and metabolomics were applied to two spring-wheat cultivars (Bahar, drought-susceptible; Kavir, drought-tolerant). Drought stress induced detrimental effects on Bahar leaf proteome, resulting in a severe decrease of total protein content, with impairments mainly in photosynthetic proteins and in enzymes involved in sugar and nitrogen metabolism, as well as in the capacity of detoxifying harmful molecules. On the contrary, only minor perturbations were observed at the protein level in Kavir stressed leaves. Metabolome analysis indicated amino acids, organic acids, and sugars as the main metabolites changed in abundance upon water deficiency. In particular, Bahar cv showed increased levels in proline, methionine, arginine, lysine, aromatic and branched chain amino acids. Tryptophan accumulation via shikimate pathway seems to sustain auxin production (indoleacrylic acid), whereas glutamate reduction is reasonably linked to polyamine (spermine) synthesis. Kavir metabolome was affected by drought stress to a less extent with only two pathways significantly changed, one of them being purine metabolism. These results comprehensively provide a framework for better understanding the mechanisms that govern plant cell response to drought stress, with insights into molecules that can be used for crop improvement projects.

In order to study the effect of drought stress on eight cultivars corn (Zea mays L.), an experiment was conducted in a factorial experimental on the basis of randomized complete block design under two irrigated conditions during 2010-2011 cropping season. Twelve drought tolerance/resistance indices including stress tolerance index (STI), stress susceptibility index (SSI), tolerance index (TOL), geometric mean production (GMP), mean production (MP), yield index (YI), yield stability index (YSI), drought resistance index (DI), relative drought index (RDI), stress susceptibility percentage index (SSPI) and modified stress tolerance (K1STI and K2STI) were calculated based on grain yield under drought and irrigated conditions. Yield in stress and non-stress conditions were significantly and positively correlated with STI, GMP, MP, YI, TOL, DI, RDI, YSI, SSPI, K1STI, and K2STI and negatively correlated with SSI. Yield in stress and non-stress conditions were significantly and positively correlated with STI, GMP, MP, YI, TOL, DI, RDI, YSI, SSPI, K1STI, and K2STI and negatively correlated with SSI. Screening drought tolerant cultivars using ranking method, three dimensional plots discriminated cultivars ‘KSC720’, KSC 710GT and ‘KSC 700’ as the most drought tolerant. Cluster analysis classified the cultivars into three groups i.e., tolerant, susceptible and semi-susceptible to drought conditions. In general, Results of this study showed that among drought tolerance indices STI, YI, SSPI, K1STI, and K2STI can be used as the most suitable indicators for screening drought tolerant cultivars and ‘KSC720’, KSC 710 GT and ‘KSC 700’ had the highest tolerance to drought in our studies condition.

In order to study the response of nine cultivars spring canola (Brassica napus L.) to drought stress, an experiment was conducted in a factorial experimental on the basis of randomized complete block design with three replications under two irrigated conditions during 2009-2010 cropping season. Eleven drought tolerance indices including stress tolerance index (STI), stress susceptibility index (SSI), tolerance index (TOL), geometric mean production (GMP), mean production (MP), yield index (YI), yield stability index (YSI), drought resistance index (DI), modified stress tolerance (MSTI), relative drought index (RDI) and stress susceptibility percentage index (SSPI) were calculated based on grain yield under drought (Ys) and irrigated conditions (Yp).Yield in stress (Ys) and non-stress (Yp) conditions were significantly and positively correlated with STI, GMP, MP, YI, TOL, DI, RDI, YSI, SSPI, K 1 STI and K 2 STI and negatively correlated with SSI. Results of this study show thatthese indices of stress tolerance/resistance such as K 1 STI, K 2 STI, SSPI, RDI and DI can be used as the most suitable indicators for screening drought tolerant cultivars.Screening drought tolerantcultivars using ranking method discriminated cultivars Hyola 308, Heros and SW5001 as the most droughts tolerant. Cluster analysis classified the cultivars into three groups i.e., resistant, susceptible and tolerant to drought conditions. Therefore they are recommended to be used as parents for improvement of drought tolerance in other cultivars.

Wild relatives of wheat serve as an extraordinary source of variability for breeding programs due to their capabilities to respond to various environmental stresses. Here, we investigated some species possessing a D genome (T. aestivum, Ae. tauschii, Ae. crassa and Ae. cylindrica) in terms of relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance (Gs), relative chlorophyll content, initial fluorescence (Fo), maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), maximum primary yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fo), as well as shoot fresh and dry biomasses under control and water deficit conditions. Our results revealed that water deficit negatively affected all traits; shoot fresh weight, Gs and RWC showed the highest reduction compared to the control condition. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified two PCs that accounted for 53.36% of the total variation in the water deficit conditions. Correlation analysis and PCA-based biplots showed that stress tolerance index (STI) is significantly associated with Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo under water stress conditions, suggesting that these are the best parameters to evaluate when screening for tolerant samples at the seedling stage. We identified 19 accessions from Ae. crassa and one from Ae. tauschii as the most tolerant samples. In conclusion, Ae. crassa might provide an ideal genetic resource for drought-tolerant wheat breeds.

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