Impact of Super Absorbent Polymer on Physiological Traits and Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Mihan) Affected Drought Stress Conditions

BACKGROUND: Drought stress and climate changes cause damage led to reduction in agricultural production. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation the impact of different levels of super absorbent polymer (SAP) on reducing the effects of drought stress on some physiological traits and activity of some antioxidant enzymes in wheat crop. METHODS: Current research was conducted with using a split-plot arrangement based randomized complete block design with three replications in research field of Islamic Azad University of Kaleybar, Iran in crop year 2017. Main plots included different irrigation regime at three level (D1: after 60mm, D2: 90mm and D3: 120mm evaporation pan class A) and different amounts of super absorbent polymer (S1Zero or control:, 75 kg.ha-1: S2 and 150 kg.ha-1: S3 super absorbent polymer; SAP) belonged to sub plots. RESULT: Analysis of variance showed the effects of super absorbent polymer, drought stress and interaction between super absorbent and drought stress in the probability levels of 1 and 5 percent were significant for most traits. The results also showed by exerting drought stress, the activity of antioxidant enzymes increased and the levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids and relative water content decreased. Nevertheless, although using super absorbent significantly increased physiological traits but it decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The irrigation level of 210 mm evaporation had the greatest impact on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and osmotic regulators. CONCLUSION: The highest increase in most examined traits obtained when 75 kg.ha-1 of super absorbent was used. According to the results, super absorbent polymer resulted in mitigating the adverse effects of drought stress on wheat plants.