Physiological responses of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes to water stress |
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| Authors: | Unathi Liwani Nkanyiso J. Sithole Alfred O. Odindo Toi J. Tsilo |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Discipline of Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa;2. Germplasm Development, Agricultural Research Council, Small Grain, Bethlehem, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | The recent drought in South Africa has reduced the production of both dryland and irrigated wheat. This study evaluated physiological traits of irrigated wheat genotypes in response to water stress (WS) imposed at different growth stages. A 8?×?2?×?3 [(genotypes)?×?(water treatmets; stresses and non-stressed)?×?(growth stages; tillering, flowering and grain filling)] factorial experiment based on a randomised complete block design with three replicates was conducetd. In general, the rate of photosynthesis was unaffected by WS except for genotypes LM43 at tillering and LM98 at grain filling. Stomatal conductance (SC) and transpiration rate (Tr) followed the same treand except for genotype LM35 which reduced its SC and Tr significantly at grain filling. Instantaneous waster use efficiency (IWUE) of genotype LM35 and LM57 was unaffected (p?>?0.05) by WS at tillering but at flowering stage it was affected. However, at grain filling IWUE was affected (p?
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| Keywords: | Genotypes growth stages physiological traits water stress drought tolerant wheat genotypes |
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