Effect of tebuconazole and azoxystrobin on the physiological parameters of wheat seedlings and their resistance to water stress

Strobilurin and triazole class fungicides are actively used in agriculture as part of dressers to protect plants from fungal disease. In addition, they have various physiological effects on plants, including increased resistance to adverse environmental factors. The combined effect of these fungicides under water stress is understudied. The present work aims to examine the individual and combined effects of tebuconazole and azoxystrobin on the growth characteristics of wheat and its resistance to water stress. The study used winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) plants grown from seeds treated with tebuconazole (2 mg/50 g seeds) and azoxystrobin (4 mg/50 g seeds) suspensions separately or together. In order to create water stress, five- day seedlings were transferred to 20% polyethylene glycol solution (PEG 6000), with stability assessed at seven and nine days. Tebuconazole was found to have a retardant effect on shoots and stimulate root growth. Azoxystrobin inhibited shoot growth and particularly root growth. When used together, tebuconazole partially reduced azoxystrobin-induced root inhibition. Azoxystrobin increased the negative effect of water stress, while tebuconazole effectively protected the root system of seedlings, partially reducing the effect of azoxystrobin. The stimulation of root growth with tebuconazolewas concluded to play an important role in providing resistance of winter wheat to water stress and to have the potential for use in agriculture.