Effect of Heat Stress on Grain Starch Content in Diploid, Tetraploid and Hexaploid Wheat Species

Heat stress during grain development adversely affects the starch content of grain in wheat, which results in poor grain quality and yield. Identification of the sources of heat tolerance for grain starch content in wheat species is an important step towards breeding for heat‐tolerant wheat. In this study, 32 wild and cultivated genotypes belonging to diploid (probable donors of B, A and D genomes), tetraploid (BBAA and AAGG genomes) and hexaploid (BBAADD genome) wheat species were evaluated for heat stress tolerance in the field at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India (77°12′ E; 28°40′ N; 228.6 m m.s.l) on two dates, 18 November (normal sowing) and 15 January (heat stress), during 1995–96. The crop sown in January experienced mean maximum temperatures of 31.0–39.3 °C during grain development, which are considered to represent heat stress for wheat grain development. Hexaploids had the highest grain starch content and the lowest heat susceptibility index, followed by tetraploid and diploid species. The heat susceptibility index (S) for grain starch correlated significantly and positively with that of grain weight (Y = 1.259X ? 0.29, R² = 0.8902, P < 0.001) across wheat species, while the actual grain growth duration or the ‘S’ of grain growth duration did not correlate significantly with that of grain weight. Hence, a high mean grain growth rate under heat stress is a better trait for heat tolerance than long grain growth duration. Wide genetic variability for heat tolerance in grain starch content was observed among the wheat species. Hence, the grain weight and quality under heat stress can be improved by using the variability available among wheat species.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with grain filling duration and grain number under terminal heat stress in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Terminal heat stress has the potential negative impact on wheat production across the world, especially in South Asia. Under the threat of terminal heat stress, wheat genotypes with stay green trait would suffer from high temperature stress during their long grain filling duration (GFD). The genotypes with short GFD would be advantageous. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for heat tolerance, a RIL population of K 7903 (heat tolerant) and RAJ 4014 (heat sensitive) wheat genotypes was investigated under timely and late‐sown conditions. Heat susceptibility index of GFD, yield components and traits under late‐sown condition were used as phenotypic data for QTL identification. Stable QTLs associated with these traits were identified on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 3B, 5A and 6B. The LOD value ranged from 2.9 to 5.0 and the corresponding phenotyping variation explained ranged from 12.0–22%. QTL for heat susceptibility index for the grain filling duration were colocalized with QTL for productive tillers under late sown and GFD under late‐sown condition on chromosomes 1B and 5A, respectively. These genomic regions could be exploited for molecular wheat breeding programmes targeting heat tolerance.     

Analysis of genotypic variation for normalized difference vegetation index and its relationship with grain yield in winter wheat under terminal heat stress

Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which is a measure of leaf greenness (chlorophyll content), is considered to be correlated with crop productivity. This study was conducted to examine genotypic variations for NDVI at different growth stages and its relationship to yield in winter wheat under terminal heat stress. Thirty winter wheat genotypes were evaluated at two locations in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 in Uzbekistan. The NDVI was recorded at booting, heading, milk and dough stages. The wheat genotypes differed significantly for NDVI at each stage. Grain yield ranged from 3.9 to 6.1 t/ha. Wheat genotypes differed in per cent decline in NDVI from booting to dough stage. However, several high‐yielding genotypes maintained higher NDVI than low‐yielding genotypes when heat stress was evident. The findings suggest change in NDVI during heat stress could be a measure of tolerance. The positive correlation of NDVI with grain yield suggests that it could be used as an indirect selection criterion for identifying physiologically superior, high‐yielding wheat lines under terminal heat stress.     

Heat Shock Protein in Developing Grains in Relation to Thermotolerance for Grain Growth in Wheat

Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cvs DL 153-2 and HD 2285 (relatively tolerant), HD 2329 and WH 542 (relatively susceptible), were grown under normal (27 November) and late (28 December) sown conditions. In another experiment, these cultivars were grown under normal sowing and at anthesis stage, they were transferred to control (C) and heated (H) open top chambers (OTCs). Under late sowing, wheat cultivars were exposed to a mean maximum temperature of up to 3.6 °C higher than normal sowing and in H-OTCs, mean maximum temperature was 3.2 °C higher than C-OTCs during grain growth period. Heat susceptibility index (S) for grain growth and grain yield was determined at maturity in both the experiments. The level of heat shock protein (HSP 18) in the developing grains was determined in C- and H-OTC grown plants and in normal and late sown plants by Western blot analysis. The moderately high temperature exposure increased the accumulation of HSP 18 in the developing grains. The relatively tolerant cultivars, as also revealed from S , showed a greater increase in HSP 18 compared with susceptible types in response to moderate heat stress. An association of HSP 18 with thermotolerance for grain growth in wheat was indicated.     

Effect of two-week heat stress during grain filling on stem reserves,senescence, and grain yield of European winter wheat cultivars

To examine the extent to which heat stress during grain filling impacts on the development and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a 3-year field experiment was conducted on a loess soil with high water holding capacity in the North German Plain. Thirty-two mostly European winter wheat cultivars were exposed to heat stress in a mobile foil tunnel with maximum air temperatures of 45.7, 45.4, and 47.2°C in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. The 14-day post-anthesis heat stress treatment caused an average 57.3% grain yield reduction compared to a close-by non-stressed control. The proportion of green crop area after the heat stress phase varied from 7% to 98% in 2016 and from 37% to 94% in 2017. The green crop area percentage did not significantly correlate with grain yield, indicating that the delayed senescence of stay-green phenotypes offers no yield advantage under terminal heat stress. The water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of the stems at crop maturity varied between 6 and 92 g/kg dry matter, showing that the genotypes differed in their efficiency at using the stem carbohydrate reserves for grain filling under heat stress. The stem WSC concentration correlated positively with the beginning of anthesis (r = 0.704; p < .001) but negatively with the grain yield (r = −0.431; p < .05). For heat tolerance breeding, the stem reserve strategy, i. e. the rapid and full exhaustion of the temporary carbohydrate storage therefore seems more promising than the stay-green strategy.     

Improvement of durum wheat-plant type,yield potential,and adaptation

Summary Improvement of durum wheat at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) was achieved by exploiting the variability of the tetraploid species in large numbers of combinations, and multi-location testing of germplasm on a world wide base. High yielding, widely adapted durums with short straw, good fertility, and adequate earliness were selected for distribution to major durum growing countries. Present attempts to improve durum wheat are directed at adjusting agronomic traits such as leaf angle and straw strength, and increasing spike fertility and spike size, thereby reaching higher grain numbers per unit area and higher yield potential. Diversification of the developmental pattern and incorporation of drought tolerance aim at further widening adaptation.     

A strategy of ideotype development for heat-tolerant wheat

Heat stress significantly limits yield in many wheat-growing areas globally including north-western NSW. While various traits linked to high-temperature tolerance have been identified, the combination of traits that optimize the heat tolerance of wheat has not been established in most environments. A total of 554 genotypes were evaluated in the field at different times of sowing in north-western NSW for three consecutive years to develop a heat-tolerant wheat ideotype for this environment. The later sown experiments were exposed to higher temperatures at the critical reproductive and grain-filling stages of development. The impact of high temperature was greatest at anthesis, and eventual grain yield was reduced by between 4% and 7% with every 1°C rise in average maximum temperature above the optimum of 25°C. High temperature reduced yield, plant height, grain weight and days to anthesis and maturity, and increased the percentage of screenings and grain protein content. Genotypes that produced higher yield under heat stress had shorter days to flowering and maturity, higher NDVI during grain filling, greater chlorophyll content at the milk stage of grain fill, taller plants, greater grain weight and number, and lower screenings compared with the benchmark cultivar Suntop. The genotype closest to the predicted heat-tolerant wheat ideotype identified from trait ranges had 79.6% similarity.     

Association of staygreen trait with canopy temperature depression and yield traits under terminal heat stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The presence or absence of the staygreen trait was screened for 3 consecutive years in 963 wheat lines from various sources, including Indian and CIMMYT germplasm. Staygreen was assessed at the late dough stage by visual scoring (0–9 scale) and the leaf area under greenness (LAUG) measurement. Around 5.5 % of the lines were staygreen, 10.5 % were moderately staygreen, and the remaining lines showed little or no expression of the trait. One hundred lines showing diversity for the staygreen trait were sown under three different sowing dates (timely, late and very late) for 3 consecutive years in three replications to determine the association of staygreen with heat tolerance. There was a decline in yield, biomass, grain filling duration (GFD) and 1,000 grain weight (TGW) under late and very late sowing conditions owing to terminal stress at anthesis and later stages. However, the decline was relatively less in staygreen genotypes compared to the non-staygreen (NSG) ones. The correlation study showed that LAUG and canopy temperature depression (CTD) were strongly correlated. LAUG and CTD were also significantly associated with grain yield, GFD and biomass. To further confirm the association of the staygreen trait with terminal heat stress, individual F₂-derived F₇ progenies from the cross of the ‘staygreen’ lines with NSG were evaluated for yield and yield traits at the three sowing dates. In each cross, the staygreen progenies showed a significantly smaller decline in yield and TGW under heat stress than the NSG progenies. These results appear to suggest an association between the staygreen trait and terminal heat stress and, thereby, that the staygreen trait could be used as a morphological marker in wheat to screen for heat tolerance.     

Elevated CO2 modulates the effects of drought and heat stress on plant water relations and grain yield in wheat

To investigate the interactive effects of drought, heat and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) on plant water relations and grain yield in wheat, two wheat cultivars with different drought tolerance (Gladius and Paragon) were grown under ambient and elevated [CO₂], and were exposed to post‐anthesis drought and heat stress. The stomatal conductance, plant water relation parameters, abscisic acid concentration in leaf and spike, and grain yield components were examined. Both stress treatments and elevated [CO₂] reduced the stomatal conductance, which resulted in lower leaf relative water content and leaf water potential. Drought induced a significant increase in leaf and spike abscisic acid concentrations, while elevated [CO₂] showed no effect. At maturity, post‐anthesis drought and heat stress significantly decreased the grain yield by 21.3%–65.2%, while elevated [CO₂] increased the grain yield by 20.8% in wheat, which was due to the changes of grain number per spike and thousand grain weight. This study suggested that the responses of plant water status and grain yield to extreme climatic events (heat and drought) can be influenced by the atmospheric CO₂ concentration.     

Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Grain Yield Variations among Tetraploid Wheat Species Cultivated under Contrasting Precipitation Regimes

Nineteen accessions belonging to six tetraploid wheat species were evaluated and compared for carbon isotope discrimination and grain yield during two successive cropping seasons (1995 and 1996) under Mediterranean rainfed conditions. The two seasons differed markedly in precipitation regime. A wide variation for the measured traits was observed among the 19 accessions for carbon isotope discrimination and grain yield in both years. Significant differences were also noted between species accessions for Δ and grain yield. In both years, Triticum timopheevi (AG genome) showed lower Δ values than the other tetraploid species (all carrying the AB genome). Positive correlations were observed between Δ and grain yield in both years. The use of carbon isotope discrimination as an indirect selection criterion for yield under stress and the potential benefits of some alien tetraploid species in improving drought tolerance in durum wheat are discussed.     

Exogenous application of allelopathic water extracts helps improving tolerance against terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell.)

The allelopathic water extracts (AWEs) may help improve the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic stresses owing to the presence of the secondary metabolites (i.e., allelochemicals). We conducted four independent experiments to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of AWEs (applied through seed priming or foliage spray) in improving the terminal heat and drought tolerance in bread wheat. In all the experiments, two wheat cultivars, viz. Mairaj‐2008 (drought and heat tolerant) and Faisalabad‐2008 (drought and heat sensitive), were raised in pots. Both wheat cultivars were raised under ambient conditions in the wire house till leaf boot stage (booting) by maintaining the pots at 75% water‐holding capacity (WHC). Then, managed drought and heat stresses were imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% WHC, or shifting the pots inside the glass canopies (at 75% WHC), at booting, anthesis and the grain filling stages. Drought stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 39%–49%. Foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield of wheat by 26%–31%, while seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 18%–26%, respectively, than drought stress. Terminal heat stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 38%. Seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 21%–27%; while foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield by 25%–29% than the heat stress treatment. In conclusion, the exogenous application of AWEs improved the stay green, accumulation of proline, soluble phenolics and glycine betaine, which helped to stabilize the biological membranes and improved the tolerance against terminal drought and heat stresses.     

Drought and heat stress reduce yield and alter carbon rhizodeposition of different wheat genotypes

Drought and high temperature are major environmental stress factors threatening wheat production during grain filling stage resulting in substantial yield losses. Four wheat genotypes (Suntop, IAW2013, Scout and 249) were planted under two temperature levels (25 and 30°C) and two water levels (15% and 25% soil moisture content). Wheat yield, leaf δ¹³C, plant rhizodeposition, shoot biomass and root traits were examined. Low moisture (drought stress) and high temperature (heat stress) decreased the grain yield of all wheat genotypes, in particular 249, while combined drought and temperature stresses had the most pronounced negative effect on plant biomass and grain yield. Decreasing soil water availability decreased the allocation of plant‐derived C to soil organic carbon (SOC) and to microbial biomass through rhizodeposition. Leaf δ¹³C decreased with increased yield, suggesting that higher yielding genotypes were less water stressed and allocated less C to SOC and microbial biomass through rhizodeposition. Wheat genotypes with lower root/shoot ratios and thinner roots were more efficient at assimilating C to the grain, while genotypes with higher root/shoot ratios and thicker roots allocated more C belowground through rhizodeposition at the expense of producing higher yield. Therefore, improving these traits for enhanced C allocation to wheat grain under variable environmental conditions needs to be considered.     

Expression of seed storage proteins responsible for maintaining kernel traits and wheat flour quality in common wheat under heat stress conditions

Heat stress during grain filling has been documented to decrease wheat grain yield and quality in arid regions worldwide. We studied the effect of heat stress on wheat flour quality in heat tolerant cultivars to define the effects of heat stress on flour quality and to identify germplasm combining traits for heat tolerance and good flour quality. We studied the kernel phenotypic traits, the expression of seed storage proteins (SSPs), and the resulting flour quality under heat and normal conditions. Under heat stress, all cultivars yielded narrow-shaped seeds, and increased protein contents as compared to the control plants grown under normal conditions. The specific sedimentation values used to estimate the gluten quality varied between cultivars. We identified cultivars that could maintain good flour quality under heat stress conditions: ‘Imam’, which possessed the Glu-D1d allele responsible for the suitable bread-making; ‘Bohaine’, which displayed high expression level of SSPs; and ‘Condor’, which possessed slight variations in the ratio of each SSP under heat stress conditions. Combining the desirable traits from these cultivars could yield a wheat cultivar with heat tolerance and good flour quality.     

QTL associated with heat susceptibility index in wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) under short-term reproductive stage heat stress

Heat stress adversely affects wheat production in many regions of the world and is particularly detrimental during reproductive development and grain-filling. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with heat susceptibility index (HSI) of yield components in response to a short-term heat shock during early grain-filling in wheat. The HSI was used as an indicator of yield stability and a proxy for heat tolerance. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the heat tolerant cultivar ‘Halberd’ and heat sensitive cultivar ‘Cutter’ was evaluated for heat tolerance over 2 years in a controlled environment. The RILs and parental lines were grown in the greenhouse and at 10 days after pollination (DAP) half the plants for each RIL received a three-day heat stress treatment at 38°C/18°C day/night, while half were kept at control conditions of 20°C/18°C day/night. At maturity, the main spike was harvested and used to determine yield components. A significant treatment effect was observed for most yield components and a HSI was calculated for individual components and used for QTL mapping. QTL analysis identified 15 and 12 QTL associated with HSI in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Five QTL regions were detected in both years, including QTL on chromosomes 1A, 2A, 2B, and 3B. These same regions were commonly associated with QTL for flag leaf length, width, and visual wax content, but not with days to flowering. Pleiotropic trade-offs between the maintenance of kernel number versus increasing single kernel weight under heat stress were present at some QTL regions. The results of this study validate the use of the main spike for detection of QTL for heat tolerance and identify genomic regions associated with improved heat tolerance that can be targeted for future studies.     

Pleiotropic effects of the elongated glume gene P1 on grain and spikelet shape-related traits in tetraploid wheat

Wheat grain size and shape are associated not only with yield but also with product and milling quality. A subspecies of cultivated tetraploid wheat, Triticum turgidum ssp. polonicum, is characterized by elongated glumes. To elucidate morphological effects of the subspecies differentiation-related gene, we conducted QTL analysis for grain and spikelet shape using a mapping population between two tetraploid wheat subspecies, polonicum and durum. P1, the gene controlling the elongated glumes, was located on chromosome 7A, and the polonicum-type allele acted in an incomplete dominance manner to express the elongated glume phenotype. The polonicum allele of the P1 locus significantly affected not only glume length but also grain shape, spike shape, awn length and seed fertility in tetraploid wheat. The elongated glume phenotype was correlated with an increase in spike length, grain length and grain weight, and with a decrease in fertility, grain number and awn length. Thus, the subspecies differentiation-related gene in subspecies polonicum dramatically affects grain shape accompanied by alteration of spikelet shape in tetraploid wheat.     

Inheritance of cellular thermotolerance in bread wheat

Leaf membrane stability (LMS) and the tetrazolium triphenyl chloride (TTC) test, heat susceptibility index (HSI), heat response index (HRI) and grain yield were used to evaluate 20 diverse wheat genotypes under normal and heat stress conditions for 2 years. The varieties ‘Seri’ and ‘Raj 3765’ had a desirable combination of cellular thermotolerance (TTC and LMS), heat tolerance (HRI) and high grain yield potential under heat stress, while ‘WH 730’ and ‘WH 533’ were better in cellular thermotolerance and heat tolerance. The varieties ‘PBW 373’ and ‘Kauz’ also performed better under heat stress in terms of grain yield and HSI/HRI. The varieties ‘Kanchan’, ‘PBW 373’, ‘NIAW 34’ and ‘GW 173’ were avoiders/escapers, ‘Seri’ and ‘HUW 234’ were tolerant to heat stress, while ‘WH 730’, ‘WH 533’, ‘Nesser’, ‘Raj 3765’ and ‘Kauz’ showed a combination of both. Correlation coefficients revealed that HRI was the most important trait, followed by TTC because the genotype having high HRI also had high grain yield and was better in mitochondrial viability and membrane stability under heat stress. Significance of GCA and SCA variances indicated the presence of both additive and dominant types of gene action. The use of the parents with high GCA effects, namely, ‘Raj 3765’ and ‘WH 730’ in a crossing programme for thermotolerance may provide desirable segregants through selection.     

Heat tolerance for yield and its components in different wheat cultivars

Summary Twenty one diverse, standard and experimental cultivars of common spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were tested for the effect of heat stress on phenology, yield and its components by growing the materials for 2 years under full irrigation during the hot summer (offseason), and the cool winter (normal) conditions. Heat tolerance was estimated for each variable by the heat susceptibility index (S) which scales the reduction in cultivar performance from cool to hot conditions relative to the respective mean reduction over all cultivars.Genotypes differed significantly in S for yield and its components. The ranking of cultivars in S over the 2 years was consistent for yield, kernels per spike and kernel weight, but not for spike number. Of the three yield components, the greatest genotypic variation in S was expressed for kernels per spike. However, S for yield could not be simply attributed to S in a unique component across all cultivars. On the other hand, a general linear model regression of summer yield on its components revealed that the most important yield component affecting yield variation among cultivars under heat stress was kernel number per spike. Kernel number per spike was positively associated across cultivars with longer duration and greater stabilty of thermal time requirement from emergence to double ridge. It is therefore concluded that kernel number per spike under heat stress is a reasonable estimate of heat tolerance in yield of wheat and that this tolerance is operative already during the first 2 to 3 weeks of growth.     

Australian rice varieties vary in grain yield response to heat stress during reproductive and grain filling stages

Climate change may lead to an increase in both day and night time temperatures in rice (Oryza sativa L) growing regions, but the impact of such temperature increases on yields of Australian rice varieties is not known. We evaluated the biomass and grain yield response of eleven Australian rice varieties including long, medium and short grain types, and the Californian cultivar M205, to heat stress during the reproductive phase and grain filling stages. Heat stress (day/night = 35/25°C) was applied at one of three stages: from panicle exertion to anthesis (PE), from anthesis to 10 days after anthesis (EGF) and from 10–20 days after anthesis (LGF) periods after which the effect on biomass and grain yield was compared to control plants. When heat stress was applied at PE and early grain filling stages, mean grain yield losses across rice varieties were 83% and 53%, respectively, though significant genotype × heat stress treatment interactions were observed. Notably, three varieties—YRM 67, Koshihikari and Opus—appeared to possess greater tolerance to heat stress at these growth stages. A significant genotype × heat stress treatment interaction was also observed in the LGF treatment, where significant yield reductions were only observed in Opus (21% loss) and YRM 67 (25% loss). A lack of effect of heat stress on total grain yield in most varieties at late grain filling appeared to be due to late tiller grain yields which were either unaffected by the heat stress or increased significantly compared to control plants. While genetic variation for tolerance to heat stress across the three growth stages was observed, there was no rice genotype that was consistently tolerant (in terms of yield under stress) across all three heat stress treatments. In the absence of a genotype that showed broad heat stress tolerance during reproductive growth, we suggest screening of a wider pool of more diverse rice germplasm is warranted.     

Does post‐anthesis heat stress affect plant phenology,physiology, grain yield and protein content of durum wheat in a semi‐arid Mediterranean environment?

Increasing air temperature due to changing climate is projected to decrease the length of the growing season, hasten vegetative development and maturation, and ultimately affect yield of many C3 crops. Previous multilocation trials highlighted strong relationships between thermal trends in the interval “beginning of flowering‐end of grain filling” and grain yield, and protein content in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.). With the aim to confirm these relationships, nine durum wheat genotypes, including old (Capeiti 8, Senatore Cappelli and Trinakria) and modern (Amedeo, Arcangelo, Mongibello, Simeto, and Svevo) varieties and a Sicilian landrace (Russello) were grown at three different sites representing a climate gradient in Sicily, Italy. Moreover, the effect of post‐anthesis heat stress on these durum wheats was further investigated in two contrasting environments: open‐field (control—C) and greenhouse heat stress (HS). HS shortened the interval “beginning‐end of flowering” of 1.5 days across genotypes, and the “end of flowering‐beginning of grain filling” and maturation of 4.9 days, with a range of 1 day in Arcangelo to 11 days in Cappelli. Advances in main phenophases significantly decreased kernel weight (KW) and grain yield (GY), whereas grain protein content (PC) increased. As expected, a negative relationship was observed between GY and PC, while positive relationships were found for GY and grain‐filling duration (GFD), and GY and KW. Genotypes responded differently to heat stress, as evidenced by the net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, instantaneous water use efficiency and dry matter accumulation in kernels. Genotypes were ranked according to the heat susceptibility index (HSI): Amedeo, Arcangelo, Capeiti 8, Svevo and Trinakria resulted heat‐tolerant. These varieties were characterized by an early trigger of dry matter accumulation in kernels under HS (Amedeo, Arcangelo and Trinakria), or showed similar length of the GFD (Capeiti 8) between environments. The multilocation trial confirmed a negative relationship between maximum temperatures and grain yield, and a positive relationship between minimum temperatures and protein content during grain–filling periods. Research focusing on agronomic strategies, phenology and breeding for tolerance to heat stress is of strategic importance to cope with the detrimental effect of global warming in semi‐arid climates.     

Assessment of drought resistance in 20 accessions of Triticum aestivum and related species I. Total dry matter and grain yield stability

Summary Interspecific hybridisation has been suggested to improve the resistance of crops to biotic and abiotic stresses. To identify sources of resistance to drought which could be used in a breeding programme, an assessment of a large number of wheat species was carried out. The evaluation was based on the estimation of a drought susceptibility index and stability in total dry matter and grain yields of various species grown across a range of soil moisture conditions. On the basis of stability in total dry matter yield, T. aestivum was relatively more drought resistant. However, on the basis of grain yield stability, T. sphaerococcum, T. vavilovii and T. aestivum cv. C 306 exhibited better yield stability and drought resistance than the other species tested. It is suggested that the above species could be utilized as parental material in a hybridisation programme aimed at improving the drought resistance of wheat.