Effect of Post-Anthesis Drought Stress on Grain Yield of Winter and Facultative Bread Wheat Genotypes

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Abstract

Drought stress as the most important abiotic stress plays a significant role in reduction of crops yield. This study was conducted at six agricultural experimental stations (Karadj, Ardebil, Arak, Mashhad, Jolgerokh and Miandoab) during 2006-08 cropping seasons. Experiments were carried out under normal irrigation and post-anthesis drought stress conditions using 18 wheat genotypes. Experimental design in all locations at both conditions was RCB with three replications. Results of combined ANOVA in normal and stress conditions showed significant effect for genotype and year, and also for location?? year, and genotype ? location ? year interactions. Mean grain yield of the genotypes under normal irrigation was from 5969 to 7073 kg ha-1, however under stress condition this range was between 4041 to 5676 kg ha-1. Based on stress tolerance and susceptibility indices per se and ranking parameters (R and SDR) of the indices for each genotype, C-85-3 with mean grain yield of 5676 kg ha-1 under drought stress condition, and R=1.2 and SDR= 0.44 was determined as the most tolerant genotype. The most susceptible genotype was C-85-10 with mean grain yield of 4041 kg ha-1 and R=17 and SDR=1.22.

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