Abstract

Drought is a seriously wide-spread problem influencing wheat (Triticum aestivum) production and quality. Developing of abiotic tolerant cultivars is hampered by the lack of wheat genetic resources.The main objective of this research was to evaluate drought tolerance of some wheat landraces that were naturally acclimatized to stress environmental conditions in Egypt.Eight wheat landracescollected from diverse areas of Egypt as well as two wheat cultivars, i.e.YecoraKojo (exotic drought tolerant cultivar) and Gemmeiza 9 (Egyptian high yielding cultivar) were evaluated under four different water regimes, i.e., 75%, 50% and 25% of well-watered regime (100%) after planting irrigationduring 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons. Field work carried out at Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station. Measurements included leaf gas exchange rate and some agronomic traits. The results showed significant differencesamong genotypes in gas exchange rate, i.e. Net photosynthesis (PN), transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (gs), yield and its components and drought tolerance indices,i.e. water use efficiency (WUE),drought susceptibility index (DSI)and grain yield response index (GYRI),indicating the presence of wide genetic variability among them. The reduction in soil water contents led to reduction of the gas exchange rate, yield and its components. Landraces 1and 8 had higher gas exchange rate, yield and its components under different irrigation regimes as compared to Gemmeiza 9.Also drought tolerance indices indicated that both landraces 1 and 8 are promising as drought tolerantand high yielding genotypes.

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