Foliar zinc application for zinc biofortification in diverse wheat genotypes under low Zn soil

Dhaliwal, Salwinder Singh and Sharma, Vivek and Shukla, A. K. and Verma, Vibha and Behera, S. K. and Singh, Prabhjot and Singh, Harkirat (2022) Foliar zinc application for zinc biofortification in diverse wheat genotypes under low Zn soil. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 50 (4). pp. 1269-1277. ISSN 0133-3720 (print), 1788-9170 (online)

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Abstract

The burgeoning population has forced farmers to grow wheat on light-textured low-zinc (Zn) soils which are otherwise not suitable for wheat cultivation. Growing Zn efficient wheat cultivars under such conditions along with Zn application is a sustainable approach to achieve higher Zn content and crop yield. Hence, screening of Zn efficient bread, durum and triticale wheat genotypes is necessary for their differential response toward foliar Zn application owing to their variable genetic characteristics. A field experiment was conducted on 16 (bread, durum and triticale) wheat genotypes with foliar application of Zn at different physiological stages for two years. Zinc application resulted in a maximum increase of grain and straw yield for the triticale genotype-TL2942 (48.2%) and bread genotype-PBW343U (68.4%) over the control. The grain and straw concentration of Zn increased to a maximum in the durum genotype-HD2967 (68.5%) and bread genotype-PBW 621 (51.2%) over the control. With respect to grain yield efficiency index (GYEI) and grain Zn accumulation efficiency index (ZAEI), PBWZn1 (95.8) and TL2969 (127.9), respectively, responded better to the Zn application. Based on GYEI and ZAEI, the genotypes TL2969, PDW291 were categorized as efficient and responsive, PBWZn1, HD2967, PBW621, PDW274, PBW343U efficient and non-responsive, PDW233, PDW314, PBW677, WHD943, TL2908, PBW725 inefficient and responsive as well as PBW550U, PBW550, TL2942 inefficient and non-responsive. The TL2969, PDW291 genotypes of wheat are most desirable for economical production due to higher yield and more Zn accumulation in low-Zn soil.

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