Interactive effects of rice residue and water stress on growth and metabolism of wheat seedlings

). Garden soil was taken as control. Twentyfive seeds were sown in each experimental trays filled with soil mixture according to thetreatments. Trays were arranged in two groups. After 15 days one set was subjected to waterstress (WS) by withholding water supply for 3 days. Morphological and biochemical parameters of18 days old seedlings were recorded. Seedling height decreased in all treatments. A gradualdecrease in relative water content, pigment and protein contents of wheat seedlings wereobserved. Sugar and proline contents increased in treatments. An increase in malondialdehyde(MDA) content and antioxidative enzyme activities was recorded. Elevation in catalase activitywas observed in all treatments except in plants with water deficit. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX)and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activities increased when residue mixed with soil but decreased inseedlings under the combined influence of the residue and water stress. Higher amount of MDAand lower activities of APX and GPX reflected the oxidative damage in seedlings under combinedtreatments. Rice residue inhibited growth of wheat seedlings. Water stress intensified the effectsof residue.