Excised-leaf Water Loss as a Simple Selection Criterion for Drought Resistance in Wheat

Abstract

Excised-leaf water loss from excised leaves of 30 wheat cultivars was determined under irrigated and drought stressed conditions. It was then related to the drought response index characterised by comparing grain yield under irrigated and drought stress conditions. The water loss has been found to be an indicator of drought resistance and considerable genetic differences existed for this easily determinable trait at tillering and anthesis stages of plant growth. The drought response index had stronger associations with water loss under drought conditions which indicated that varieties showing less water loss also contributed to drought resistance. The cultivars C 306 and RL 7 had low water loss at both tillering and anthesis stages of plant growth and had high yield under drought stress conditions.