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GENETIC VARIABILITY OF DIFFERENT WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) GENOTYPES/CULTIVARS UNDER INDUCED WATER STRESS

SULMAN SHAFEEQ, MEHBOOB-UR-RAHMAN AND YUSUF ZAFAR

Abstract: Drought significantly depresses yield of many crop plants including wheat in the world. Identification of wheat genotypes that can tolerate limited water condition is vital to boost the wheat production. Under drought, cell membrane stability (CMS) and its relationship with different agronomic traits has been thoroughly described as an important screening trait to breed for drought tolerant wheat genotypes. In Pakistan, we first time extensively screened a large collection of wheat gene pool using the CMS as a screening tool. In the present study, 50 wheat cultivars/genotypes were screened for CMS by exposing the flag leaf discs with instant drought using PEG (6000). Significant differences were found among the wheat genotypes for CMS, number of tillers and 100 seed weight. Interaction between water regimes and genotypes was also significant which showed the genetic variation among the 50 cultivars/genotypes. Correlation between CMS and number of tillers was significant, while it was non significant with 100 seed weight. The association between the number of tillers and 100 seed weight was non significant. Among these parameters, CMS was found the most reliable screening parameter for characterization of cultivars/genotypes for drought. This study will be helpful in warranting wheat genome mapping studies.

Plant Genomics & Mol Breeding (PGMB) Labs, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P.O. Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author: Mehboob-ur-Rahman; mehboob_pbd@yahoo.com Fax: +92-41-2651472