Effects of Artificially Drought Induced by Chemical Desiccation in Several Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes

Climatic changes affect crop production and wheat as one of the main crop worldwide suffers production losses year by year caused by drought stress. The aim of this study was to identify valuables winter wheat genotypes concerning to drought tolerance. A set of 113 Romanian and foreign genotypes were analysed for drought tolerance over two experimental years in field conditions at Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda. Simulating drought effect was realized by applying the desiccant solution (NaClO3 - 2%) on wheat plants at 14 days after anthesis. Morpho-productive traits, such as number of grains per spike; weight of grains per spike; thousand kernel weight and grain yield were analysed as a response of drought stress conditions. Of the main yield components: weight of grains/spike and thousand kernel weight were more affected traits. Simulation of drought effect allowed identification of valuable cultivars, capable to limiting the drought impact on yield components and finally on grain yield. Among studied cultivars, six perspective lines from Turda breeding program were noted for a small reduction rate of thousand kernel weight and weight of grain per spike as main yield components. They will be used as genetic resources for improvement of drought tolerance.