Mitigating Drought Stress in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Through Exogenous Application of ?-Aminobutyric Acid

Drought stress is a serious threat for sustainable crop production throughout the world especially in arid and semi-arid regions one of main constraints to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production. Different mitigation strategies, including foliar spray osmolytes such as ?-aminobutyric acid (BABA), help combat drought conditions. A 2-year field study was conducted evaluate effect exogenous application BABA on growth, productivity, net return under The experimental treatments comprised levels, viz., control (well watered (WW)); at vegetative stage (DVS); reproductive (DRS). Drought-mitigating BABA, 0 mM (control), 25 mM, 50 75 with three replications. Foliar condition had significant physiological traits, yield, yield-related traits. 75-mM solution improved SPAD–chlorophyll value membrane stability index maintained higher relative water contents. It also 1000-achene weight achene produced about 41% 44% more yield during 2018 2019 respectively compared other treatments. Significant positive correlations were observed between yield-contributing traits different This finding suggests that may be used viable option growers enhance benefit conditions regions.