Studies On Drought And Thermal Tolerance In Newly Developed Wheat Genotypes Under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

The present investigation entitled, Studies on drought and thermal tolerance in newly developed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under rainfed conditions with 42 newly developed wheat genotypes viz., HI1580, MP3299, HD2987, UAS325, HI1581, K0915, MACS6416, MACS6350, UAS324, MACS6348, WH147, HUW468, Kundan, PBW343, PBW644, K0917, RAC875, AKAW3717, DBW74, PBW396, HD2781, UAS316, HD2733, K0818, MP1227, PBW596, HD3070, NI5439, JWS134, UAS315, HD3045, TL2968, MACS6354, HI1579, PBW175, MP1239, C306, WH1080, HD3071, NIAW1415, GW322 and Excalibur was conducted for two consecutive years i.e. 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Experiment Research Farm Nawabganj, C.S.Azad Univ. of Agril. and Tech., Kanpur. Results revealed that wheat genotypes showed a significant differential response for morpho-physio-biochemical, yield and its attributing components under soil moisture stress conditions. Wheat genotypes viz., C306, WH147, AKAW3717, MACS6350, UAS324, NI5439, NIAW1415, MP3299, MACS6416, HI1579, WH1080 and K0818 recorded higher germination per cent, lower mortality per cent, higher seedling vigour, leaf area index, specific leaf weight, greater elevation in leaf angle0, medium early maturity, higher relative water content, greater water retention capacity, larger canopy temperature depression (CTD0C), less leakage of electrolytes (low value of MII%), higher value of chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm ratio), 1000- grain weight, productive tillers/m2, grain number, biological yield, harvest index and more grain yield under soil moisture stress conditions thereby proved to be more drought tolerant over other genotypes, therefore, these genotypes can be used as a suitable donor in breeding programme to evolve a drought tolerant wheat genotypes for general cultivation under rainfed conditionsFurther, these traits possessed a significant positive correlationship with grain yield and its components thereby it indicates their involvement in mechanism of drought tolerance. Thus, these traits which are simple and easily measurable can be use