Sensitivity quick screening of wheat genotypes to water stress

Abstract

Wheat production in Libya is limited by water scarcity and high soil salinity, so the selection of tol-erant genotypes is an important step in achieving high yields. Water takes up the position of the main environmental factor that causes osmotic stress and affects growth, crop development and especially yields. The aim of these studies was to determine the most reliable parameter (germination parameters and length, fresh and dry weight of vegetative parame-ters) for the separation of the genotypes sensitive to water deficit and the selection of the most tolerant one. Based on the percentage of seed germination in drought conditions, genotypes were classified into three categories: poor (<80%) V5, V2, V7 and V3, medium (80-90%) V1, V4, V8 and V12, and good germination (>90%) V6, V9, V10 and V11. The most reliable parameters for the separation of the sensitivity were: germination percentage and index of germination, shoot and root length, fresh weight of root and shoot, and dray shoot weight. Based on the overall analysis, the most tolerant varieties for water deficit are V6 (Bhoth 306, Libyan) and V11 (NS Vlajna, Serbian), while the most sensitive are V9 (Marshosh, Libyan) and V10 (Zemunska rosa, Serbian).