Zinc-Induced Biochemical Constituents and Reproductive Yield of Wheat with Zinc Supply in Sand Culture Conditions

Abstract

In a sand culture experiment, the present study deals with the quantitative (growth and some biochemical constituents) and qualitative yield of grains (zinc and protein contents) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. HD-2967) under the influence of various concentrations of zinc supply (0.01, 0.1 1.0 and 5 mg l-1). Zinc levels were prepared in a standard nutrient solution (omitting zinc). The zinc accumulation was dose dependent in vegetative parts of wheat, which was increased with increase in zinc supply levels. The low and high zinc content in wheat shoot inhibited pigments content and activity of antioxidative enzymes like catalase and peroxidase. The mobilization of zinc in grains was lower at elevated and low zinc-supply levels in contrast to their accumulation in vegetative parts. The zinc mobilization efficiency index (ZnMEI) was higher at normal doses of zinc as compared to low (0.01 mg l-1) and elevated zinc levels (5 mg l-1). In the present study, maximum increase of 15, 25 and 18% was observed in the dry matter yield, shoot length and total chlorophyll content, respectively following exposure of 1.0 mg l-1 of zinc. At this zinc treatment, protein content in the seeds was elevated by 10% with zinc enrichment by 73%. The observations of this study may be helpful in the studies of zinc-enrichment in wheat production in Zn-deficient soil.