Propiconazole and Salicylic acid alleviate effect of drought stress in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) through biochemical and some physiological characters.

Abstract

In this study, the protective role of propiconazole (PCZ) and salicylic acid (SA) in relation to biochemical content and some physiological parameters were investigated in drought stressed Sorghum bicolor plants. The pot culture experiment was carried out on Botanical garden, Deportment of Botany, Annamalai University.  A 30 Days After Sowing (DAS) plants were subjected to 3, 6, and 9 Days Interval Drought (DID) stress and drought with PCZ at 1 mM and drought with SA at 1 mM at 30, 40, and 50 DAS. The plants irrigated regularly in alternate day interval were kept as control. The plant samples were collected on 60, 70, and 80 DAS from all the treatments. The biochemical contents like starch and sucrose, then physiological parameter like Relative Water Content (RWC) and Electrolyte Leakage (EL) were analysed. Under the drought stress reduced starch and RWC was observed then, sucrose and EL content were increased. The drought with growth regulator treated plants starch and RWC was reduced then, sucrose and EL was increased but it was lower than that of control. Together, our findings demonstrate that, PCZ and SA is an efficient growth regulator with diversified roles that contribute to its potential alleviating effect against drought stress.