Author(s): W. U. HASAN, C. ROY, T. CHATTOPADHYAY, R. D. RANJAN AND N. DE

Abstract: Heat and drought stress are major wheat production constrains in South Asia. The present experiment was conducted with 22 wheat genotypes under optimum, drought, and heat stress conditions to study the effect of stress on yield and its contributing traits. Significant genetic variations were recorded for all the traits under optimum and both the stress conditions. All the traits were affected under stress among them grain yield was affected most. An average yield reduction of 53.4% was recorded under drought stress. Thousand-kernel weight (TKW), canopy temperature (CT), days to maturity (DM) affected maximum under heat stress. Drought stress drastically reduced membrane stability index (MSI), relative water content (RWC), root length (RL), dry root weight (DRW) and fresh root weight (FRW). RL was increased under drought stress but decreased under heat stress. A significant positive association of grain yield with TKW under heat and drought stress and with RWC under drought stress explained their utilization for selection of genotypes. The genotypes DWR 13-1, SSN 1330-2-2, DWR 37-2 and DWR 2-4 were identified as heat and drought tolerant which may be further used in the breeding program.

DOI: 10.22271/09746315.2021.v17.i1.1424

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