INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF DROUGHT RELATED MORPHO-PHYSIO TRAITS IN WHEAT GENOTYPES

Abstract

Adequate soil moisture is indispensible for better crop harvests whereas lack of ample soil humidity at critical development stages of crop commonly grown in rainfed areas, limits crop productivity. This may be compromised by genetically improved drought tolerance coupled with yield increase. The present study investigated the inter-relationship of morpho-physio traits among 30 wheat genotypes through correlation analysis. Wheat genotypes were sown during Rabi season 2012-13 following RCBD, both under rain shelter and field conditions. Results revealed highly significant (p< 0.01) differences among genotypes. A significant positive correlation (0.97) was recorded between days to heading and maturity days as well as between number of fertile tillers/plant and total grain yield/plant (0.38) under normal field conditions. Under rain-shelter conditions the relative water content (0.48) and chlorophyll contents (0.34) showed a significant (p< 0.05) and positive correlation with grain yield/plant and number of grains per spike. Hence, it was suggested that traits including number of heading days, number of maturity days, number of fertile tillers per plant, grain yield/plant, relative water content, chlorophyll contents and total number of grains per spike may be used in selection strategy to develop drought tolerant wheat genotypes.