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This study aimed to examine the reaction of several wheat species with different ploidy levels to foliar application of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) under different water regimes. Thirty-five wheat genotypes, including nineteen tetraploids from ten different species, ten hexaploids from five species, and six diploids from three species, were evaluated in the field over two moisture regimes with the following four treatments: control, foliar Zn application, foliar Fe application, and foliar Zn + Fe application. The experiments were conducted according to a split-plot scheme in a randomized complete block design with two replications in each moisture regime. Water stress negatively affected all measured traits, except grain Zn and Fe content. Combined foliar application of Zn + Fe significantly increased yield and alleviated yield reduction caused by water stress. Applying Zn and Fe significantly increased both micronutrient content in grains under both moisture conditions. Tetra and hexaploid species yielded nearly four times as much grain as unimproved diploid species and were less affected by water stress. All ploidy levels responded almost similarly to Zn and Fe treatments, with the combined application being as effective as each element separately. The highest yield increase in response to combined application of Zn + Fe under the two moisture conditions and the highest grain Zn content in response to Zn application under water stress was observed in hexaploid wheat. Combined foliar application of Zn and Fe increases grain Zn and Fe and alleviates water stress's adverse effects on all wheat ploidy levels, making biofortification cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a lack of assessment tools for large samples, the effects of foliar Zn and Fe applications on grain nutritional and quality traits for wheat genotypes from diverse species and poloidal levels under water-limited conditions are less addressed. With the availability of simple/rapid solvent retention capacity (SRC) tests to assess a large number of samples for grain quality attributes, thirty-five wheat genotypes from 18 different species were field evaluated under four treatments of control, zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and Zn + Fe foliar applications in two moisture regimes. Grain yield (GY) and thousand kernel weight (TKW) decreased due to water stress, while the grain quality traits including SRC values, flour protein content (FPC), Zn, and Fe content increased. Although diploid species showed higher FPC, grain Zn, and Fe than tetraploid (4x) and hexaploid (6x) species across all treatments, they presented much lower SRC values attributed to protein quality. Zinc application increased SRC profiles for 4x and 6x wheat and alleviated GY and TKW reduction due to water stress. A significant correlation between various grain and flour parameters confirmed the validity of the results and SRC quality predictions. [Display omitted] • Diploid wheat had higher grain protein than 4x and 6x but showed lower SRC values. • Wheat quality attributes including protein increased under water stress. • Yield reduction was more evident in 2x and 4x than 6x wheat in water stress. • Zinc treatment enhanced wheat yield and quality traits, especially in water stress. • Solvent retention capacity correlated with all other quality traits almost perfectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]