Effect of water deficit on gas exchange parameters, productivity and grain wholesomeness of spring wheat.

The rate of photosynthesis and transpiration, intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance in spring wheat plants were determined in an experiment conducted during the years 2004–2005. The severity of fungal infection of wheat kernels was estimated by a traditional method and a molecular BIO-PCR technique with the use of universal and SCAR primers. It was found that water deficit decreased thousand grain weight, grain weight per plant and the values of gas exchange parameters (including photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration), in particular photosynthesis. The values of biometric characters did not decrease. The rate of wheat grain colonization by fungal pathogens was slightly higher under water stress conditions.