IDENTIFICATION OF DROUGHT TOLERANT WHEAT GENOTYPES BASED ON SEEDLING TRAITS

Drought significantly reduces yield of many crop plants including wheat in the world. Identification of wheat genotypes that can thrive on limited water is vital to boost the wheat production of rainfed areas. Forty wheat genotypes were screened for drought tolerance using 0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5% Polyethylene Ethylene Glycol 6000 solutions at PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan during 2009-10. Data were recorded on various seedling parameters like germination percentage, germination rate index, root length, shoot length, coleoptile length and seedling vigor. The seedling traits showed a decreasing trend in response to increased concentrations of PEG 6000. Wheat genotype Lyalpur-73 was found the best for germination percentage (87.5). The genotypes C-591 had maximum germination rate index (2.4). Wheat genotypes Pasban 90 and WC-18 possessed maximum root length (9.9) and seedling vigor (7.4) respectively. The genotype Auqab-2000 showed maximum shoot length (8.3). Wheat genotypes Pak-81 along with CB 335 had maximum coleoptile length (1.9). Germination percentage and germination rate index showed positive correlation with all other traits. Root length showed positive association with shoot length and coleoptile length. While shoot length had positive correlation with coleoptile length and seedling vigour.