Sorgaab-Induced Modulation in Morpho-Physiological and Chemical Traits of Wheat under Heat Stress Conditions

Crop plants that experience supra-optimal temperatures (heat stress conditions) exhibit significant reduction in yield. This report explores the role of sorgaab (an aqueous sorghum extract) in improving tolerance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants to supra-optimal temperatures. The wheat variety Faisalabad-2008 was sown in pots in a completely randomized design, and treated after 1-month’s growth with varying sorgaab concentrations and temperatures. After 30 days of growth with sorgaab and two temperature treatments, various growth parameters were recorded. Physiological parameters were also determined and included measures of leaf photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanins, flavonoids, Na+, and sulphate. Overall, sorgaab in concentration of 10% had the most beneficial results toward improving growth parameters in plants growing under lower and higher temperatures and had the effect of minimizing the impacts of higher temperature symptoms. Chlorophyll content was observed to increase in sorgaab treated plants. Exposure to higher temperatures significantly reduced Na+ and sulphate content, and sorgaab treatment significantly ameliorated this response. Overall, sorgaab solution was effective in reducing the damaging effect of higher temperatures in wheat, improving wheat plant growth and physiology.