Author(s):

B Mahadeva Prabhu, PW Ramteke, Pradeep Kumar Shukla, Pragathi Mishra, Aashu Attri, Bupinder Singh and Gaurav S Pagire

Abstract: Globally cereals are considered as basic or staple diet for man, as cereals are rich in nutritive value. Cereals are severely pretentious by stressful environments such as drought, salinity, extreme high temperatures and other stresses. At present, drought stress is considered as the major factor that adversely affects crop growth and yield, generating declines in global cereal’s production including wheat and maize by 3.8% and 5.5%, respectively. Nitric Oxide (NO) is a growth regulator and a potent signaling molecule for plant systems. Effect of NO on photosynthetic enzymes and pigments such as Rubisco Activity, Chlorophyll a and b, Total Chlorophyll and carotenoid content of wheat ( a C₃ plant) and maize (a C₄ plant) under different levels of PEG induced drought were probed in the present research. Two genotypes, each of wheat and maize where exposed to different levels of drought [induced by 8%, 16%, 24% PEG] with and without nitric oxide. Results revealed that NO application increased rubisco activity, % rubisco in total protein, chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll and decreased carotenoid level. The effect of NO was more profound on heat tolerant genotype, W-7 in contrast to heat susceptible genotype PW-353. In general the effect of NO was more prominent in wheat genotypes comparison to maize genotypes however; drought didn’t affect much on maize genotypes than wheat. Investigating the rubisco activity, % rubisco in total protein, chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll content under different levels of drought stress, maize genotypes showed better performance than wheat genotypes.

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