INTRODUCTION
Drought is a major abiotic factor that limits agricultural crop production. Drought is a meteorological term and is commonly defined as a period without significant rainfall (Turner, 1979). Drought stress occurs when the available water in the soil is reduced, and atmospheric conditions cause continuous loss of water by transpiration or evaporation. The FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) pointed out that one way to ensure future food needs of the increasing world populations should involve a better use of water by the development of crop varieties which needs less amount of water and more tolerant to drought (Andersen et al., 1999).
Triazole compounds are systemic fungicides having plant growth regulating properties. The plant growth regulating properties of triazoles are mediated by their ability to alter the balance of important plant hormones including gibberellic acid, abscisic acid (ABA), and