The Hormetic Effects of a Brassica Water Extract Triggered Wheat Growth and Antioxidative Defense under Drought Stress

Drought is a major environmental constraint, affecting agricultural productivity worldwide. Allelopathic hormesis, the low-dose stimulatory effect of allelochemicals, offers pragmatic solution in alleviating adverse effects drought plants. This study, therefore, conducted to evaluate potential brassica water extract (BWE) enhancing tolerance wheat. The experiment was based on three factors, viz, with levels (100%, 60% and 30% field capacity; FC), different concentrations (control, spray, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% 3.0%) two wheat cultivars, Ihsan-2016 (drought tolerant) Galaxy-2013 (drought-sensitive). stress, particularly at FC, decreased morpho-physiological attributes both cultivars; nevertheless, application extract, effectively enhanced against stress. Compared control, 2.0% increased morphological attributes, such as seedling length fresh dry weights cultivars range 2–160% under capacity. In addition, triggered activities antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase peroxidase (11–159%), hydrogen peroxide content (14–30%) chlorophyll b carotenoid contents (19–154%), compared vigorous growth higher were related improved physiological better defense system reduced H2O2-based damaging effect.