Effect of cytokinin applications in phenological periods on yield and quality in winter wheat

This study was conducted in 2024 under dry conditions to determine the effects of cytokinin applications during the phenological stages of winter wheat on yield and quality. The research was set up in randomized blocks with a split-plot experimental design, with three replications. In the experiment, 5 different cytokinin doses (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 ppm) were applied at 4 different plant development stages of wheat [Tillering (T), Stem Elongation (SE), Heading (H), and Grain Filling (GF)]. The study examined wheat yield, moisture content, spike length, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, hectoliter weight, protein content, Zeleny sedimentation, gluten, hardness, and starch content values. According to the results of the study: the highest wheat yield (590 kg da-1) was obtained from the 5 ppm cytokinin dose applied during the stem elongation stage, while the lowest yield (321 kg da-1) was obtained from the 5 ppm cytokinin dose during the T+SE+GF stages. The study observed an increase in yield with higher cytokinin doses during the tillering stage, while dose increases led to a relative decrease in yield during the stem elongation stage. Successive applications on the same plot resulted in an antagonistic effect, leading to yield reduction. All examined traits generally had strong negative or positive relationships and were not independent of each other. The results of the study showed that foliar cytokinin application in wheat is effective against drought stress. For high yields, the optimal periods and doses should be 40 ppm during tillering or 5 ppm during stem elongation.