Novel insight into the role of date molasses in enhancing durum wheat tolerance to water stress

Abstract

Purpose: Crop production is severely limited in dry and semi-arid environments due to poor soil fertility and water scarcity. In this context, the use of date molasses as an organic amendment may enhance agronomic productivity under such conditions. This study investigates the response of two durum wheat varieties, Ofanto and Bousselam, to application of date molasses under water deficit conditions.

Methods: Morphological traits and biochemical parameters of plant development were assessed under different treatments.

Results: Water stress significantly inhibited wheat growth by markedly reducing seminal root length, leaf area index (LAI), shoot and root dry biomass, and chlorophyll (a+b) content. Additionally, a decrease in adventitious root formation was observed. However, application of date molasses effectively maintained higher chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents, and enhanced activities of key antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT).

Conclusions: Date molasses application under water deficit conditions efficiently mitigated water stress effects in durum wheat. Our findings emphasize the potential of this organic amendment to reduce the negative impacts of abiotic stress on crop plants.