Water‐retention capability as a selection criteria for drought resistance in wheat

Abstract

Four durum wheat cultlvars (Triticum turgidum spp. durum Desf.) from different countries of origin (Austria, Ethiopia, and Italy) were investigated. Plants were grown in pots under glasshouse conditions. Immediately after the full development of the flag leaves, these leaves were detached for the screening. Distinct differences in water‐retention capabilty among the cultivars was observed. The drought‐resistant (hardy) types, Valgerardo and Boohai, showed better water retention capabilty than the drought‐sensitive ones, such as DZ‐04–688. Poor yielding cultivars under field conditions were also found to be poor in water‐retention capability and vice versa. The applied method is simple and inexpensive. It adds another procedure when screening for drought resistance. However, it needs further confirmation by cultivars covering a broader range of genetic diversity.