Effects of Mineral Nutrition on Water Status and Osmotic Adjustment in Spring wheat under Different Moisture Conditions

The Ψw and RWC of the leaves of spring wheat at low level of nutrition were higher than those of the spring wheat leaves at high level during the slow drought period. Therefore, the plants at high nutrition level were more sensitive to drought. High mineral nutrition did not enhance the maximum osmotic adjustment but changed the regulatory process of osmotic adjustment under drought condition. During moderate to nearly severe drought period higher osmotic adjustment was shown in the leaves of spring wheat at high nutrition level. The major solute contributed to osmotic adjustment in the leaves of the spring wheat was soluble sugar, mostly reducing sugar.