Abstract
The study was conducted at the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Pakistan to evaluate the drought stress tolerance efficiency of wheat cultivars. Eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes namely (Pasban-90, Inqalab-91, Auqab-2000, AS-2002, Sahar-2006, Shafaq-2006, Lasani-2008, and FSD-2008) were used for screening in laboratory. Three techniques were used for the screening. These techniques are (I) seed germination at -0.6 MPa external water potential (PEG-6000), (2) seedling growth after 14 days at -0.6 MPa (PEG-6000), and (3) plant water relations of seven-week-old pot-grown plants. Significantly highest germination stress tolerance index, root length stress tolerance index and the water content was recorded in Lasani-2008 and lowest was recorded in Auqab-2000. Dry matter percentage was recorded significantly highest in pasban-90 while the lowest dry matter percentage was observed in auqab-2000. FSD-2008 gained maximum plant height and was recorded minimum in Inqilab-91. Relative saturation deficit was significantly highest in Auqab-2000 while the significantly lowest relative saturation deficit was recorded in case of Lasani-2008. It was concluded from the results that Lasani-2008 performed better under drought and Auqab-2000 was recorded most drought sensitive variety.
Highlights
Turgor maintenance plays an important role in drought tolerance of plants which may be due to its involvement in stomatal regulation and photosynthesis (Ludlow et al, 1985)
While screening the wheat cultivars for most drought sensitive and most drought tolerant genotype it was considered that the success of these approaches under green house and lab conditions depends on their same behavior under field condition
Eight wheat genotypes namely (Pasban-90, Inqalab-91, Auqab-2000, AS-2002, Sahar-2006, Shafaq-2006, Lasani-2008, FSD-2008) were chosen for this study to compare the performance of their growth under normal and stress condition in laboratory during 2008
Summary
Turgor maintenance plays an important role in drought tolerance of plants which may be due to its involvement in stomatal regulation and photosynthesis (Ludlow et al, 1985). Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, No 12 (12) / 2012 tolerance can best be accomplished by selecting for grain yield under field conditions (Richards, 1978), but such procedures require full season field data It is not always an efficient approach, especially in mesic locations. Several physiological characteristics have been reported as being reliable indicators for the selection of germplasm possessing drought tolerance These characteristics include seed germination and seedling growth in nutrient solutions with low osmotic potential (Ashraf et at, 1992; Blum, 1980; Richards, 1978), the degree of electrolyte leakage (cell membrane stability, CMS) from drought-damaged leaf cells and the water relations of plants (Dedio, 1975; Ashraf et al, 1992). While screening the wheat cultivars for most drought sensitive and most drought tolerant genotype it was considered that the success of these approaches under green house and lab conditions depends on their same behavior under field condition
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