Winter wheat productivity formation under water deficit in soil

Abstract

Aim. The aim of research was to investigate influence of water deficit in soil on morphology and productivity of bread winter wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.). Methods. Wheat plants cultivars Podolyanka and Natalka were grown under optimal conditions until the earing-flowering phase, after that the experimental plants were transferred to drought regime for 8 days. The optimal supply of water was restored to the end of vegetation. The leaf surface area, the mass of internodes and ear were measured during the experiment. Ripened plants were analyzed by the yield structure. Results. It is established that the effect of water deficit in the critical earing-flowering phase of ontogenesis caused decreasing in the leaf surface area, mass of internodes and ear, weight of 1000 grains in both Podolyanka and Natalka cultivars. However, number of grains decreased only in cultivar Podolyanka under drought. Conclusions. Water deficit in the soil in the critical earing-flowering phase led to inhibition of growth processes and productivity reduction in bread winter wheat.