Open Access

ARTICLE

Impact of Drought, Salinity, and Waterlogging on Wheat: Physiological, Biochemical Responses, and Yield Implications

Mudasser Mehmood^1,*, Zoahaib Aslam Khan¹, Adil Mehmood², Madiha Zaynab³, Muhammad Atiq ur Rahman⁴, Mohammad Khalid Al-Sadoon⁵, M. Harshini⁶, Ling Shing Wong⁷

1 Mona Reclamation Experimental Project (MREP), WAPDA, Bhalwal, Sargodha, 40410, Pakistan
2 Department of Entomology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan
3 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource & Eco-Environmental Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 51807, China
4 Provincial Reference Fertilizer Testing Laboratory Raiwind, Lahore, 55150, Pakistan
5 Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
6 Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602105, India
7 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Nilai, 71800, Malaysia

* Corresponding Author: Mudasser Mehmood. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants: Physio-biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(4), 1111-1135. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.059812

Received 17 October 2024; Accepted 08 February 2025; Issue published 30 April 2025

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop critical for global food security, yet its productivity is significantly affected by abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and waterlogging, which are exacerbated by climate change. This study evaluated the effects of these stresses on vegetative growth, physiological responses, and yield. Field experiments were conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at the Mona Reclamation Experimental Project (MREP), WAPDA, Bhalwal, Sargodha, Punjab Pakistan. Stress treatments included three levels of drought (25%, 50%, and 75% field capacity), salinity (4, 8, and 12 dS/m), and waterlogging (24, 48, and 72 h). Key parameters measured included plant height, leaf area, tiller number, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities. The results revealed that drought stress caused a 46% reduction in yield, while salinity and waterlogging reduced yield by 54% and 35%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Key physiological changes included a significant reduction in stomatal conductance (from 0.55 to 0.15 mmol m²/s under drought stress, p < 0.01) and chlorophyll content (from 48 to 28 SPAD units under drought, p < 0.01). Biochemical responses indicated elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), with significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activities, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). These findings underscore the need for developing stress-tolerant wheat varieties and implementing agronomic practices to mitigate the impact of abiotic stresses on wheat yield.

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