The effect of seed tuber weight on characters in the first and the second clonal generation of potato populations

Summary Fifty-five populations from crosses of three Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum cultivars and seven selected S. tuberosum ssp. andigena clones adapted to the northern temperate zone have been studied in the seedling and the first and second clonal generation. This paper only deals with the effect of seed tuber weight on various important agronomic characters which are selected for in early clonal generations, independently of the type of crosses.The results showed that a distinction has to be made between the effects of differences in seed tuber weight within and between seedlings, i.e. genotypes. The effects on the first clonal generation of differences in weight of the tubers within seedlings and those of the first heaviest tubers between seedlings were similar and comparable to seed tuber weight effects within cultivars. In contrast to the within seedlings effects the between seedlings effects proved to be heritable. This is concluded from the fact that, on average, independent of seed tuber weight seedlings with larger first heaviest tubers performed better in the second clonal generation than those with smaller ones. Notably plant height, general impression, date of maturity and particularly tuber yield and mean tuber weight in the second clonal generation were related to the weight of the first heaviest tubers of the seedlings. The potentialities of these findings for an early generation selection are discussed.     

马铃薯产量组分的基因型与环境互作及稳定性

本研究主要探究基因型和基因型与环境互作(genotype+genotypes and environment interactions, GGE)双标图在马铃薯育种中的应用。综合评价马铃薯品系产量性状在不同环境中的丰产性、稳定性和适应性,筛选出适应不同生态环境的产量性状优良品系。同时评价各试点的区分力和代表性,为试点的选择提供依据。2015年和2016年在甘肃安定区鲁家沟镇、安定区内官镇、渭源县五竹镇3个试点种植国际马铃薯中心引进的101份高代品系和对照青薯9号。收获后记录小区产量、小区大薯产量、小区小薯产量、单株产量、单株大薯产量、单株小薯产量、单株结薯数、单株大薯数、单株小薯数;采用联合方差和GGE双标图对产量性状进行基因型与环境互作分析。方差分析表明,除小区小薯产量在基因型与环境互作效应中无显著差异外,其他产量组分在基因型效应、环境效应和互作效应中均呈现极显著差异(P0.01)。小区产量、小区大薯产量、小区小薯产量、单株产量、单株大薯产量、单株结薯数环境效应平方和占总方差平方和最大;单株小薯产量、单株大薯数和单株小薯数的基因型与环境互作效应平方和占总方差平方和最大。GGE分析结果表明,适应性最强的品系在鲁家沟试点是G86;在五竹镇试点是G65;在内官镇试点是G86。参试品系中丰产品系有G86、G116、G124;稳产品系有G124、G125、G10;高产稳产品系有G86、G116、G124、青薯9号。单株大薯数高的品系有G45、G86、G67,稳定性好的品系有G67、G116、G51,对照青薯9号的单株大薯产量不稳定。综合鉴别力和代表性的强弱,依次为鲁家沟镇2016年、鲁家沟镇2015年、五竹镇2015年、五竹镇2016年、内官镇2015年、内官镇2016年。GGE模型能够直观地展现多年多点品系试验结果,并客观评价参试品系的丰产性、稳定性和适应性,同时可以对试点的代表性和区分力进行评价。以GGE模型综合评价,高产稳产品系有G116、G124、G125、G122、青薯9号;高产不稳定的品系有G86、G10、G121、G106、G107、G72。最理想的生态区试点是鲁家沟镇,对品种的鉴别力最强的试点是五竹镇。     

Correlations within and between characters between and within generations as a measure for the early generation selection in potato breeding

Summary The main objective was to determine the reliability of selection in early generations of a potato breeding programme. To that end data were recorded in the seedling generation, an early and a late harvested experiment of the first clonal generation and the late harvested second clonal generation on up to 30 genotypes of 55 populations from crosses of three Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum cultivars and seven selected S. tuberosum ssp. andigena clones, adapted to the northern temperate zone. Phenotypic correlations were computed per population in almost all possible combinations within and between characters between and within generations. The mean across 55 comparable correlation coefficients was considered to be the best estimate of the relationship concerned.In all four experiments data were collected on number of tubers, tuber yield and mean tuber weight; in the three experiments of the two clonal generations in addition on date of emergence, number of stems, plant height, haulm type, and general impression of the underground plant parts and in the two late harvested clonal generations on date of maturity and under water weight.The results confirmed that general impression which is largely decisive for the selection in early generations, is a little reliable measure. However, from the magnitude of the mean correlations between experiments within characters it must be concluded that selection for most of these separate characters is hardly more reliable. An exception was date of maturity for which a mean correlation was determined of r=0.78 between the two clonal generations. The second strongest mean correlations, perhaps surprisingly, were for tuber yield, viz. r=0.52 between the seedling generation and the late harvested first as well as the second clonal generation and r=0.63 between the late harvested clonal generations. From the correlations between characters it appeared that for a high tuber yield, besides its components, in particular an early emergence, a large plant height, an attractive haulm type and a late maturity are of importance.The main conclusion is that, as long as not enough seed tubers are available for the layout of statistically sound experiments, a negative instead of a positive selection should be applied to avoid the rejection of most of the valuable genotypes in an early stage. On the basis of the results directives for the application of such a negative selection are given.     

Analysis of an incomplete diallel cross among three ssp. tuberosum varieties and seven long-day adapted ssp. andigena clones of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Summary The main aim of the experiment was to study the behaviour of seven long-day adapted clones of Solanum tuberosum ssp. andigena (A) and three varieties of S. tuberosum ssp. tuberosum (T) in an incomplete diallel cross. The four groups of crosses, TxT, TxA, AxT and AxA, held 2, 12, 20 and 21 populations, respectively. Eleven of the intersubspecific crosses were exact reciprocals. Thirty random clones per population were grown as second clonal generation in an incomplete block design with four replications in plots of two plants per clone in 1980, the parents included in many plots. Data were recorded on ten characters.The results showed that group TxA gave the highest tuber yield and AxT the second highest. The F-values indicated highly significant genotypic effects for all characters in all populations. The mean genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV), were the highest for group AxA for all characters. The ANOVA, based on population means showed significant mean squares for general combining abilities (GCA) and for differences of reciprocalls for all characters; the specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were significant only for date of emergence, plant height and haulm type. Almost all GCA effects of the parents were significant positive or negative. Several populations showed also significant SCA effects. The correlations between the GCA effects and the parental values were of about the same magnitude as the heritabilities; those between the population means and the midparental values were slightly lower.Compared to the midparental values, most populations showed significant positive heterosis for date of emergence, haulm type, number of tubers and under water weight; all populations had significant negative heterosis for mean tuber weight and nearly all for plant height and general impression. All populations from groups TxT and AxA had significant negative heterosis for tuber yield and so had 13 out of the 20 populations from group AxT, while seven of the 12 from group TxA showed significant positive and four significant negative heterosis. The average heterosis for tuber yield of group TxT was –11%, of TxA 3.4%, of AxT–9% and of AxA–18%. The highest mean tuber yields were obtained from crosses with a very high yielding A-parent as female, while the heterosis was negative. Though significant differences between the 11 reciprocals occurred for all characters, consistent differences occurred only for tuber yield. Averaged over the 11 crosses the TxA populations outyielded their exact reciprocals by 10.7%. For the highest tuber yields in A-T crosses, therefore, the tuberosum cytoplasm seems to be preferable. By contrast for a high male fertility the andigena cytoplasm is preferable.     

A comparison between single plant plots and five plant plots for the initial selection stage of a potato breeding programme

Summary The efficiency of single plant selection in the initial selection stage of a potato breeding programme was examined. A random sample of potato clones was grown in single plant plots and also in tworeplicates of five plant plots. After harvest, each plot was visually assessed by three potato breeders; total tuber weight and number of tubers per plant were also recorded, from which mean tuber weight was calculated. The error variances of the single plant plots were found to be significantly greater than from the five plant plots for total tuber weight, mean tuber weight and number of tubers per plant, but not significantly different for breeders' preference. Coefficients of correlation between single and five plants plots were significantly greater than zero for all traits examined, but they were lower than the corresponding correlations between the two replicates of five plant plots. Although a random sample of clones was examined, each clone had been assessed for breeders' preference the previous year. When the clones were grouped according to the previous years preference scores, it was found that the correlation coefficients between single and five plant plots for breeders' preference were inversely related, in magnitude, to the mean preference score of each group. It was concluded that single plant selection was generally ineffective, particularly when only the better clones, from the previous years assessment, are examined.     

Association and Path Coefficients Analysis of Fresh Root Yield of High and Low Cyanide Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Genotypes in the Humid Tropics

Thirty-eight high- and low-cyanide cassava genotypes were examined in the 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons at Umudike, southeastern Nigeria using RCBD with three replications. Simple correlation associations and path coefficients analyses were computed among agronomic characters with the aim of understanding the interrelationships of these characters and the extent of their contribution to the root yield of cassava. There was a significant (P 2 0.05) positive correlation between root yield and number of roots plant-1 with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.57, average weight of root (r = 0.58) in high-cyanide cassava genotypes, while in low cyanide cassava genotypes, fresh root yield was highly significantly (P 2 0.01) correlated with average weight of root (r = 0.74). Path analysis showed that average weight of root had the highest direct effect in high (0.66) and in low cyanide (0.67) cassava genotypes. Also, the number of roots plant-1 in both types of cassava exerted a positive direct effect on fresh root yield, however, a minimum effect was obtained by number of leaves plant-1 (0.22) in high-cyanide cassava and number of stems plant-1 (-0.13) in lowcyanide cassava genotypes. Average weight of roots in high- and low-cyanide cassava genotypes had 98 and 89% direct effects, respectively, on yield of cassava. The results indicated the importance of average weight of roots and other characters such as number of roots plant-1, plant height, and number of leaves plant-1 in determining increased yield hence priority must be accorded it during selection aimed at increasing cassava root yield.     

不同产量水平甘薯品种光合产物分配差异及其原因

选取我国北方薯区主栽的食用型甘薯品种龙薯9号、红香蕉、泰中6号、苏薯8号、遗字138和北京553,于2011—2012年2个生长季在山东农业大学农学试验站进行大田试验,研究不同产量水平甘薯品种光合产物的分配差异及其原因。在甘薯主要生长时期测定茎蔓各部位蔗糖含量和基部茎粗、在块根膨大过程中对功能叶进行13C标记,探索不同品种13C同化物分配特点,同时研究上述项目与收获指数和块根产量的关系。结果表明,高产品种龙薯9号、红香蕉、泰中6号和苏薯8号产块根均在60 t hm–2左右,而中、低产品种遗字138和北京553产块根在50 t hm–2以下。高产品种的收获指数显著高于中、低产品种。在块根膨大前期高产品种的块根成为光合产物的分配中心,而中、低产品种的块根则在块根膨大后期成为分配中心;在块根膨大前、中期,高产品种13C同化物在块根中的分配比例显著高于中、低产品种,即高产品种光合产物由功能叶向块根的转运能力强于中、低产品种。供试品种茎蔓基部的蔗糖含量均高于顶部,且中、低产品种的蔗糖浓度差大于高产品种;随着甘薯生长发育,中、低产品种茎蔓基部增粗速率高于高产品种。相关分析表明,块根产量与收获指数呈极显著正相关(r=0.98**,2011;r=0.93**,2012);块根13C分配率与块根产量和收获指数均呈显著正相关(0.87*和0.91**,2011;0.92**和0.99**,2012);生长中后期,基部茎粗与块根产量和收获指数均呈显著负相关(–0.78*和–0.83*;–0.88**和–0.95**)。块根成为光合产物分配中心的时间早、光合产物由功能叶向块根的转运能力强是高产品种收获指数显著提高的主要原因,而中、低产品种光合产物由叶片向块根转运能力差的主要原因是块根中光合产物卸载不畅。     

春马铃薯种薯大小对其植株性状及产量的影响研究

该文选用过翻秋的小整薯作种进行春播试验，探讨了不同大小种薯对植株性状和产量的影响及其经济效益。结果表明，从植株性状和产量上看，每窝种薯数在１－４范围内，随着种薯数的增加，每窝基本茎数增加，出苗后第３０天冠层覆盖度增加，株高降低，茎粗变细，结薯数增加，埠茎产量变化不大，单个块茎重减少，大中薯数变化不多，大中薯重下降，大中薯数率和大中薯重率降低，其中每窝和薯数与基本茎数，出苗后第３０天的冠覆盖，株高，     

甘薯主要数量性状对单株产量的通径分析

用秦薯1号自交后代实生苗为试验材料,试验对甘薯的分枝数(x1)、最长蔓长(x2)、分枝总长(x3)、节间长(x4)、蔓粗(x5) 、叶面积(x6)、单株绿叶重(x7)、藤叶重(x8)、单株薯数(x9)、单薯重(x10)、根冠比(x11)和单株产量(y)12个数量性状进行了测定。通过相关分析、逐步回归和通径分析表明单株绿叶重对单株产量的影响最大;单株薯数和单薯重对单株产量的直接作用较大。高产育种以单株产量为选择目标时,应以单株绿叶重、单株薯数和单薯重的选择为主,结合根冠比、分枝数、叶面积和蔓粗,对这7个性状进行综合考虑和选择。     

Enhancement of diploid Solanum chacoense Bitt. using adapted clones of Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk.

Summary F₁ hybrids between Solanum phureja and S. chacoense were studied in a new approach to enhance wild diploid potato species using adapted S. phureja clones as the female parent. S. chacoense parents had few tubers, whereas S. phureja parents had been previously selected for tuberization under long days. Twenty hybrid families were evaluated for haulm vigor, vine maturity, stolon development, frequency of tuberization, tuber set, tuber yield and average tuber weight under naturally occurring increasing or decreasing photoperiods in spring and fall growing seasons in Morocco. The hybrid plants were more vigorous, later maturing with thicker stolons in the spring season. Frequency of tuberization and tuber set did not vary with season. Tuber yield and average tuber weight were higher in fall; the maximum yield was 2.4 and 4.6 kg per hill under spring and fall conditions, respectively. Remarkable variation was found both between and within hybrid families for all traits in this first cycle of enhancement. The selection of vigorous, fertile clones incorporating the S. chacoense genome is possible by using S. phureja as an adapted germplasm source.     

Comparison of diploid and tetraploid potato families derived from Solanum phureja x dihaploid S. tuberosum hybrids and their vegetatively doubled counterparts

Summary To determine whether in potatoes the tetraploid level is preferable to the diploid level, especially regarding tuber yield, four diploid (2n=2×=24) Solanum phureja x dihaploid S. tuberosum hybrid parents and their vegetatively doubled, tetraploid (2n=4×=48) counterparts were intermated, which resulted in two F₁ hybrid families at both levels of ploidy. The parents and clones of the F₁ families and their offspring were used in crosses in such a way that in addition Sib₁, Sib₂, F₁×Sib₁, BC₁ and Sib₁×Sib₁ families were produced. Of the first clonal generation of the 12 2 x families and their 12 counterpart 4 x families two tubers per clone were planted in three replications in a field experiment at Sturgeon Bay in 1969; of the parents six tubers were planted in each replication. Data were recorded on 16 characters, including plant height at four different times.The ANOVA's showed significant clone effects within each family for all characters. Computed from all family means as well as from the family means per ploidy level, differences due to family were also significant for all characters except one.As at the 2 x level and at the 4 x level of ploidy the mean phenotypic correlations between characters were of similar magnitude, it is concluded that they are independent of ploidy level.With the exception of eye depth, the mean coefficient of variation was greater at the 2 x than at the 4 x level of ploidy, indicating the greatest response to selection for those characters at the 2 x level. From the differences in family means between the 4 x and the 2 x level of ploidy it was apparent that the 4 x families generally had significantly taller plants, later maturity, fewer tubers, higher mean tuber weight, more tuber yield and more dry matter yield than their counterpart 2 x families. In contrast, the 4 x parents had on the average shorter plants, lower mean tuber weight, much lower tuber yield and lower dry matter yield than their 2 x counterparts.The phenotypic correlation and Spearman's rank correlation between the family means of the 2 x and the 4 x level of ploidy were positive for almost all characters and significant for nearly half of them.From the results it is concluded that 1. in potatoes the 4 x level of ploidy is preferable to the 2 x level, and 2. the performance of 4 x families is predictable from the performance of their counterpart 2 x families.Based on results mentioned in the literature and on the present results, a continued use of S. tuberosum dihaploids in potato breeding needs to be dissuaded.     

Breeding behavior of yield components and hollow heart in tetraploid-diploid vs. conventionally derived potato hybrids

Summary A factorial mating design with six 4x cultivars as stylar parents mated to three groups of pollen parents (4x cultivars, 4x high protein selections, and 2x S. phureja) was used to study breeding behavior of yield, tuber set, marketable yield and hollow heart in potatoes. Mean yield for the 4x-2x hybrids was equivalent to that of their cultivar parents although yield components, tuber set and average tuber size, were greater and less, respectively, than the cultivar parents. High estimates of general combining ability were found in both pollen and stylar parents for yield, tuber set, marketable yield, number of marketable tubers and hollow heart in all three hybrid populations. Specific combining ability estimates were significant only for yield and hollow heart. Frequency of white-fleshed 4x-2x progeny of five heterozygous yellow-fleshed 2x phureja genotypes was used to confirm cytological identification of a first division restitution mechanism operative in the 2x parents. Although three of these phureja genotypes generated high-yielding progeny, two others produced 4x-2x progeny with mean yield similar to that of hybrids among 4x cultivars.Scientific journal series article 11,601 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Studies on maturity,yield, under water weight and some other characters of potato progenies

Summary In 1965 the relation between maturity, tuber yield and under water weight was studied in 756 unselected fourth-year potato clones of twelve crosses. Other characters studied were seed potato weight, date of emergence, plant height, general impression of the tubers at lifting, tuber weight and payment weight, as the above relation could be influenced by or depend on these characters.The experiments were carried out on a clay soil at Wageningen. The experimental design was a partially balanced lattice with four replications and five plants per plot.The clone means, corrected according to F-values for blocks, were used for determinating normal correlation coefficients between all possible combinations of characters per population as well as for composition of frequency distributions and of population means with coefficients of variability. To estimate heritabilities within the populations the separate data of the four replications per clone were used.In 1966 the investigations were continued with 136 selected clones on both clay and sandy soil. In addition to the statistical operations used in 1965, normal correlation coefficients were calculated between the years and between the soil types using corrected clone means. The results are given and discussed.     

Components of Visual Selection in Early Clonal Generations of a Potato Breeding Programme

In the first two clonal generations of a potato breeding programme, clones are visually selected for ‘plant appearance’. Selection for plant appearance based on unreplicated small plots is unreliable, due to significant genotype × environment interaction and high error variance. In order to improve the selection efficiency, component traits of plant appearance were identified and the effect of selection for these components was studied. Tuber yield was found to be the principal component of plant appearance while stolon length and tuber appearance contributed significantly, but to a lesser extent. Tuber yield had a higher heritability than plant appearance. Characters determining the appearance of stolons and tubers were found to have equal or lower heritabilities than plant appearance at 80 days after planting and somewhat higher heritabilities than plant appearance at 145 days after planting. Hence, since the expected and observed selection responses of the component characters have been found to be equivalent to that of plant appearance, selection for plant appearance cannot be improved upon by separately selecting for characters like tuber yield and tuber appearance.     

不同木薯品种（系）农艺性状分析及高产品种（系）筛选

为了解影响木薯产量的主要因素,筛选高产木薯品种（系）,通过主成分分析对10个品种（系）的9个主要农艺性状指标进行量化对比分析。结果表明,10个木薯品种（系）的农艺性状除落叶高度和块根粗无显著差异外（P>0.05）,其余农艺性状间均具有显著差异（P<0.05）,品种（系）SC9、SC124和58-7的农艺性状变异较大,农艺性状中又以单株产量、地上鲜重、鲜薯个数和主茎粗的变异系数最大。鲜薯个数、块根长和块根粗是影响单株产量的关键因子。通过主成分分析提取了2个主成分,累积方差贡献率达88.1%,反映了农艺性状指标的基本信息,其中,鲜薯个数是第1主成分的主导变量,块根长是第2主成分的主导变量。10个木薯品种（系）中,SG-9的综合得分最高,GMT和SC9的产量优势明显,可作为种植推广的品种。     

Heritability, and Intra- and Inter-Generation Associations Between Tuber Yield and its Components in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The relative importance of the components of tuber yield in selection in early generations of a potato-breeding programme was studied. In seedling generation the number of tubers were more important than average tuber weight, whereas in clonal generations the average tuber weight was more important. Correlation coefficients between number of tubers and tuber yield varied from generation to generation whereas those of average tuber weight and tuber yield were more or less constant. Unlike the number of tubers, the average tuber weight of a genotype in a generation influenced its tuber yield in subsequent generations. The average tuber weight had higher heritability than the number of tubers and tuber yield.     

甘薯实生系与其无性系性状相关关系及早期选择利用研究

甘暮实生系是分离世代,其性状的变异与资源品种表现同一趋势,与其无性系在诸多性状上呈强弱不同的正相关关系,这是对实生系进行早期选择利用的基础.根据结薯性可将实生系分为成薯、膨大和直根3个类型,成薯系%因组合而异,受环境影响不明显.5年的研究结果证明:无性系类型间的产量性状有明显差异,从成薯类型选育高产新品系的入选率高.在此问题上和美国Granberry.M.等的认识不同.建议把我国甘薯育种的初选期提早到实生系时期,以缩短育种周期,提高育种效率.笔者认为把甘薯杂交种子培育的株系,定名为实生系,比较确切.     

Relationship of Root and Shoot Characters in Parent, F1 and F2 Populations of Rice

The direct and indirect contributions of root characters — root length, roots/plant, fresh and dry root weight on grain yield/plant were worked out from a 7 × 7 diallel set of rice hybrids. The materials were grown in pots with four replications. Path analysis was done at genotypic level of correlation.
The grain yield/plant showed positive correlation with all the root characters in parent, F₁ and F₂ except with roots/plant in F₁ population. Fresh root weight demonstrated positive direct effect on grain yield/plant in all the three generations. Roots/plant had highly positive direct effect in F₂. Direct effects were negative in respect of root length and dry root weight in F₂ generation.     

施钾对甘薯根系生长和产量的影响及其生理机制

为探讨施钾调控甘薯根系生长的生理机制,设K0(K_2O:0 kg hm~(-2))、K1(K_2O:75 kg hm~(-2))、K2(K_2O:150 kg hm~(-2))和K3(K_2O:225 kg hm~(-2))4个处理,调查施钾对甘薯生长前期和薯块膨大期根系生长、13C分配量、碳代谢酶活性、光合特性、叶绿素荧光特性、以及产量和产量构成的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,施钾处理2个生长时期光电子传递速率(ETR)提高12.7%~63.6%,净光合速率(Pn)提高7.2%~26.4%,施钾通过提高光合特性加速光合产物积累,为根系生长提供物质基础。同时,施钾有利于光合产物由地上部向地下部运转,地下部13C分配量提高10.6%~66.2%(P0.05)。其次,施钾处理提高了块根中蔗糖合酶、磷酸蔗糖合酶、腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶活性,加速了块根中碳的同化,利于光合产物在块根中的积聚,促进甘薯根系分化与生长。生长前期,施钾处理总根长提高13.6%~22.8%,根平均直径提高11.3%~51.9%,显著提高了不定根向毛细根和块根分化量(P0.05),有利于有效薯块的早期形成,保证有效的单株结薯数。薯块膨大期,施钾处理提高块根生物量,有利于薯块的膨大,提高平均薯块重,最终显著增产。与CK相比,2014年K1、K2和K3处理分别增产15.8%、24.3%和44.7%,2015年分别增产7.9%、13.4%和22.8%。     

Root system plasticity to drought influences grain yield in bread wheat

Crop productivity in semiarid regions is mainly limited by water availability. Root characteristics and plasticity to drought may reduce the negative impact of drought on crop yield. A set of near-isogenic wheat-rye translocation lines was used to test the hypothesis that root system plasticity to drought influences grain yield in wheat. Bread wheat Pavon 76 and 1RS translocation lines, namely Pavon 1RS.1AL, Pavon 1RS.1BL, and Pavon 1RS.1DL were evaluated for root allocation and plasticity in sand-tube experiments under well-watered and droughted conditions across 2 years using factorial treatments in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The 1RS translocation lines had greater root biomass per plant ranging from 7.37 to 8.6 compared to 5.81 g for Pavon 76. Only Pavon 76 showed a positive response to drought by producing more shallow roots (roots developed between 0 and 30 cm) and deep roots (roots developed below 30 cm) in droughted conditions than in well-watered conditions. Thus at drought intensity of 19% (measured as overall reduction in grain yield), grain yield in Pavon 76 was reduced only by 11% compared to the other genotypes with yield reductions ranging from 18 to 24%. However, at drought intensity of 36%, grain yield in Pavon 76 showed maximum reduction indicating that greater root production under drought is advantageous only when plant-available water is enough to support grain production. Grain yield was positively correlated with shallow and deep root weight and root biomass under terminal drought. Correlation coefficients between root system components (shallow and deep root weight and root biomass) and phenological periods were not significant. Our study indicated that genes influencing adaptive phenotypic plasticity of the root system to drought in Pavon 76 are located on chromosome 1BS.