Tropicultura (Jan 1995)

Differential Genotypic Responses of String Wheat Early Seedling Growth to Limited Moisture Conditions

  • Boubaker, M.,
  • Yamada, T.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 50 – 53

Abstract

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The objective of this study was to measure the genotypic response of spring wheat seedling growth in a range of osmotic media and to determine which genotype could be identified as drought tolerant. Six durum wheat cultivars were subjected to moisture stress using polyethylene glycol PEG-9000. Aqueous solutions of 0, -3, -6 and -9 bars were prepared. For each cultivar 20 seeds were germinated in these solutions in a growth chamber. After 2 weeks, number of roots, leaf number, coleoptile length, seedling height, root length, first and second leaf length, and dry matter weight were measured. All traits measured were significantly influenced by water stress. The water stress treatments of -6 and -9 bars gave lower rates of seedling growth than the 0 and -3 bars treatments. The results suggest that good seedling vigor under water stress condition is a useful selection criterion. An ideotype for a drought tolerant wheat genotype should have good seedling vigor.

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