1Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005
Zinc fertilization at 9 and 12 ppm delayed the senescence of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties viz. Sonalika, HUW-12 and HUW-91, through an increase in the level of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), chlorophyll contents and net assimilation rate (NAR) in leaves and increased the total dry matter content and grain yield. At 15 ppm level of zinc a decrease in these attributes was noted. This was apparently due to the beginning of toxicity of this element at this level. Early senescence and low yield were recorded in zinc deficient plants. Susceptibility to zinc was found to be relatively less in HUW-12 and HUW-91 varieties of wheat than those of Sonalika. On the basis of these physiological parameters, wheat varieties were grouped in decreasing order of susceptibility to zinc deficiency as: Sonalika > HUW-12 > HUW-91.
