Abstract
Wheat is an important crop, used as staple food in numerous countries around the world. However, wheat productivity is low in the developing world due to several biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly drought stress. Non-availability of drought-tolerant wheat genotypes at different growth stages is the major constraint in improving wheat productivity in the developing world. Therefore, screening/developing drought-tolerant genotypes at different growth stages could improve the productivity of wheat. This study assessed seed germination and seedling growth of eight wheat genotypes under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced stress. Two PEG-induced osmotic potentials (i.e., -0.6 and -1.2 MPa) were included in the study along with control (0 MPa). Wheat genotypes included in the study were ‘KLR-16’, ‘B6’, ‘J10’, ‘716’, ‘A12’, ‘Seher’, ‘KTDH-16’, and ‘J4’. Data relating to seed germination percentage, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoot, root/shoot length ratio and chlorophyll content were recorded. The studied parameters were significantly altered by individual and interactive effects of genotypes and PEG-induced osmotic potentials. Seed germination and growth parameters were reduced by osmotic potentials; however, huge differences were noted among genotypes. A reduction of 32.83 to 53.50% was recorded in seed germination, 24.611 to 47.75% in root length, 37.83 to 53.72% in shoot length, and 53.35 to 65.16% in root fresh weight. The genotypes, ‘J4’, ‘KLR-16’ and ‘KTDH-16’, particularly ‘J4’ better tolerated increasing osmotic potentials compared to the rest of the genotypes included in the study. Principal component analysis segregated these genotypes from the rest of the genotypes included in the study indicated that these can be used in the future studies to improve the drought tolerance of wheat crop. The genotype ‘J4’ can be used as a breeding material to develop drought resistant wheat genotypes.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to Triticeae tribe and Poaceae family
I.e., 0, -0.6 MPa and -1.2 MPa were included in the study by using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 [37]
Different genotypes significantly differed for their tolerance to PEG-induced drought stress as hypothesized
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to Triticeae tribe and Poaceae family. Tetraploid and hexaploidy form of wheat has been domesticated since 10,000 years ago [3]. Hexaploid form is modern day bread wheat and fulfills dietary needs of the global population. The Northern India, Northern USA, and neighboring areas in Canada, Northern and Central Europe, Southern Australia, and South Africa are the major bread wheat producing areas in the world. Global population is expected to reach billion by 2050, which would require double of the current global food production. Wheat contributes 2% towards gross domestic product and 9.9% towards value added in agriculture. The area under wheat production in the country fluctuates within 2–5% increase or decrease due to various factors [5]
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