Effect of soil moisture on relative leaf water content, chlorophyll, proline and sugar accumulation in wheat

The responses of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties to soil moistu re were determined by measuring plant parameters such as relative leaf wate r content (RLWC) and the chlorophyll, proline and sugar contents of the lea f over two seasons. Two levels of irrigation treatments were adopted: irrig ated and rainfed. The rainfed plants had consistently higher amounts of pro line and sugar but lower RLWC and chlorophyll content. As drought intensifi ed, differences between the irrigated and the rainfed plants with respect t o all of these characters increased. The RLWC values of the irrigated plant s were significantly higher in the morning but lower values were found at n oon, showing some recovery in the afternoon.