SCREENING OF WHEAT GENOTYPES FOR WATER STRESS TOLERANCE

Abstract

The effect of water stress tolerance was checked in wheat genotypes, 12 newly evolved
genotypes and three drought tolerant check varieties Sarsabz, Khirman and Chakwal-86 were
screened under various water stress conditions at Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tando Jam. The
experiments were conducted in RCBD using three irrigation levels viz. at residual moisture (no
irrigation after sowing), single irrigation and three time irrigations. The effects of water stress were
studied on grain yield, 1000 grain weight, biological yield and proline content (%). The newly
evolved genotypes showed some genetic improvement in various traits as compared to commercial
check varieties. At residual moisture, up to 3382 kg/ha was achieved from new genotypes.
Genotypes BWM-3, NIA-8/7, NIA-9/5, NIA-25/5, ESW-9525, BWQ-4, Sarsabz and Khirman had
comparatively higher mean yield (more than 2500 kg/ha) at residual moisture. This shows that the
genotypes might have better tolerance to water stress. The proline level of wheat genotypes
increased under severe water stress (residual moisture) as compared to well-irrigated experiments.
The lines NIA-28/4, NIA-9/5, BWM-3, NIA-8/7, NIA-10/8, MSH-17, BWQ-4, BWS-78 and
Chakwal-86 accumulated high level of proline under water stress which confirmed their tolerance to
drought conditions.