The Effects of Seed Pretreatment with Endophytic Bacteria on the Water Balance of Spring and Winter Wheat Seedlings under Short-Time Water Deficit.

We investigated the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with endophytic 10-4 () on spring and winter wheat ( L.; cultivars Ekada-70 (Ek) and Scepter (Sc), respectively) growth and tolerance under 1-24 h of drought stress, modulated by 12% polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG). The results showed that drought decreased transpiration intensity (TI), root relative water content (RWC), osmotic potential (Ψ) of cell sap, and induced proline accumulation and electrolyte leakage (EL) in both wheat cultivars.