Author(s)

Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Amarah Batool, Sultan AlSultan, Saba Tabasum, Amjed Ali

Qassim University, College of Agriculture, Al Qassim, KSA.
University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.

Twelve wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and their sixteen direct and reciprocal crosses were evaluated for heterosis, heterobeltiosis and potence ratio to determine the potential of wheat genotypes under contrasting water regimes. The highest positive heterosis and heterobeltiosis was observed in cross combination Sehr-06 × Pasban-90 under both water regimes for the trait stem reserve mobilization (SRM). While in trait 1000-grain weight the cross-combination Pari-73 × C-273 (Normal irrigation) and Fsd-08 × SA-42 (water stress) showed highest heterosis and Pari-73 × C-273(Normal irrigation) and Fsd-08 × Chenab-70(water stress) showed highest value of heterobeltiosis. The potence ratio in both traits expressed overdominance estimates exhibiting the presence of transgressive segregants, may be exploited for on-ward selection in the bread wheat improvement. The genotypes showing better SRM based 1000-grain weight in the absence of photosynthesis indicates relative water stress tolerance. This procedure paved an indirect way to screen the wheat genotypes to withhold water stress situation and sustain wheat production.

Stem; Reserve; Mobilization; Direct; Reciprocal

I. Noorka, A. Batool, S. AlSultan, S. Tabasum and A. Ali, "Water Stress Tolerance, Its Relationship to Stem Reserve Mobilization and Potence Ratio in Spring Wheat," American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 2, 2013, pp. 231-237. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2013.42030.