IMPROVEMENTS OF CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) BY THE APPLICATIONS OF PHYTOHORMONES

Experiments were conducted at University of Gujrat, Pakistan during 2018-2019. Plant growth regulators i.e. Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) were applied on four varieties of wheat i.e. Faisalabad-2008, Aas-2011, Gandum-1 (2017) and Ujala-2016. Treatments were applied as foliar spray and seed priming. Results indicated that the foliar spray and seed priming of IAA, GA3 and IBA expressively increased the morphological parameters (shoot and root fresh and dry weights, shoot and root lengths, number of leaves/plant, net assimilation rate and leaf area/plant). Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll & carotenoids, total carbohydrate and soluble protein had highly significant impact of Plant growth regulators. Variations in antioxidant activities (CAT & POD) have been also noted. Yield attributes (total yield & no. of seeds/plant) were enhanced by seed priming and foliar applications of hormones. Seed yield was increased up to 12% as linked to control. Foliar applications produced significant result as compared to seed priming especially for yield and biochemical contents. Better results were produced by IBA as compared to GA3 and IAA. It was concluded that the foliar applications of Plant growth regulators epically IBA can be employed to improve morphological, biochemical and yield parameters of wheat. Variations of various morpho-physiological and antioxidant activities can be utilize to predict the promising varieties of wheat responding to various plant growth regulators.