Screening for pre- and post-anthesis drought responses in selected bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

ABSTRACT

Wheat genotypes with pre- and post-anthesis drought tolerance offer enhanced yield gains under water-limited environments. This study determined pre- and post-anthesis drought responses of selected bread wheat genotypes in order to identify and select candidate genotypes for breeding. Fifteen genetically differentiated wheat genotypes were evaluated under non-stressed (NS), pre-anthesis drought stress (PrADS) and post-anthesis drought stress (PoADS) in glasshouse (GH) and field (FLD) environments. Data were collected on agronomic and physiological traits including number of days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), number of spikelet per spike (NSPS), number of kernels per spike (NKPS), thousand kernel weight (TKW), grain yield (GY) and canopy temperature (CT). Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of genotypes, environments and their interactions for studied traits. Weak and positive correlations were recorded between GY with PH (r = 0.47 and 0.32), NSPS (r = 0.37 and 0.52) and TKW (r = 0.30 and r = 0.20) under PrADS and PoADS conditions, respectively. Genotypes SMY-006, SMY-008, SMY-016, SMY-042 and SMY-044 were identified with pre- and post-anthesis drought tolerance and high yield potential and suitable yield-component traits. These are useful genetic stocks for breeding or cultivation in water-limited environments to improve yield gains.

KEYWORDS:

• Abiotic stress
• agronomic traits
• physiological traits
• wheat
• yield gains

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to CIMMYT for the provision of the elite wheat genotypes used in the study. The University of KwaZulu-Natal and National Research Foundation of South Africa are acknowledged for all-round support of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Sibusiswangaye Yolanda Mdluli is currently a PhD student in Plant Breeding at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, African Centre for Crop Improvement, South Africa.

Prof. Hussein Shimelis is a Plant Breeder, Chair of Crop Science and Deputy Director for the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Dr Jacob Mashilo is a Crop Scientist at the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Research Services), Towoomba Research Station, Bela-Bela, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

ORCID

Jacob Mashilo http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9015-043X

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.