Genetic Analysis of Staygreen Trait and its Association with Morpho-physiological Traits under Water Deficit Stress in Wheat

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the relation of staygreen trait with yield attributes and physiological traits under water deficit condition in wheat and to identify genetically diverse and agronomically desirable functional staygreen parents for incorporation in the breeding programmes for the development of drought tolerant genotypes. Heritability estimates along with genetic advance are high for leaf senescence rate (LSR). Present study also demonstrated significant positive association of staygreen trait LSR with RWC, photosynthetic rate, ear weight, thousand kernel weight and grain yield. Grouping genotypes for drought tolerance and staygreen trait suggested, CHIRYA7 as the most drought tolerant (DSI = 0.58) staygreen genotype (LSR=0.13) and CBW38 as drought susceptible (DSI = 1.12 ) fast senescing (0.48) genotype. D2-clustering grouped the genotypes into six clusters on the basis of similarity in the traits studied. Cluster III genotypes display staygreen character because it exhibited maximum cluster mean for photosynthetic rate, grain yield, test weight, SCMR, ear weight, biological yield, RWC and minimum cluster mean for DSI and LSR. There is a maximum intercluster distance between Cluster III and cluster VI hence staygreen genotypes from cluster III viz. CHIRYA7, HW2041 can be selected and crossed with cluster VI genotypes viz. HW2063 for incorporation of functional staygreen trait for development of drought tolerant genotypes. The clustering of genotypes will help to identify divergent genetic material for obtaining highly heterotic functional staygreen wheat hybrid for drought condition.