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Water Relations in Winter Wheat as Drought Resistance Indicators

Univ. of Idaho Res. and Ext. Ctr., Aberdeen, ID 83210

Richard C. Johnson, Brett F. Carver and Dolores W. Mornhinweg

Agronomy Dep., Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078

^* Corresponding author.

Although drought is recognized as an important limitation to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in many regions, drought resistance selection techniques are not adequately developed. In 1984–1985 and 1985–1986, field experiments were conducted in Stillwater, OK, to determine potential drought resistance parameters and their inheritance in winter wheat. Single plants of drought resistant ‘TAM W-101’ and drought susceptible ‘Sturdy’, their F₁ and F₂ progeny, and backcrosses of the F₁ to each parent were evaluated under a rain shelter. Tiller number was recorded throughout the growing season. As stress developed during reproductive development, water potential (WP), solute potential (SP), turgor potential (TP), relative water content (RWC) were measured at 7- to 10-d intervals on single leaves until tlag leaf senescence. Tiller number and growth rate were similar among the six populations. Water potential, WP components, and RWC declined with increasing drought stress, but no significant differences among populations were found, in WP, SP, or TP. Relative water content differed significantly among populations under increasing drought stress. TAM W-101 maintained a higher RWC under drought conditions than Sturdy, and had a longer grain-filling period. Comparison of the RWC values among populations indicated that differences were controlled predominantly by genes with additive effects. Narrow-sense heritability (h²) of RWC increased as drought stress intensified and reached a maximum value of 0.64 1 wk prior to flag leaf senescence. With this high h₂, RWC shows promise as a selection criterion for drought resistance in winter wheat.

Key Words: Triticum aestivum L. • Relative water content • Tillering • Water potential • Generation-means analysis

Financial support provided in part by the Oklahoma Wheat Res. Foundation and the Oklahoma Water Res. Inst.

Received for publication July 17, 1987.