Grain dormancy in fixed lines of white-grained wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) grown under controlled environmental conditions

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can be a significant problem, causing deleterious effects on grain quality. However, the adverse impacts of PHS can be reduced by introgressing genes controlling grain dormancy into white-grained bread wheat. Screening for grain dormancy typically involves germination testing of harvest-ripe grain grown in a glasshouse or field. However, the more uniform environmental conditions provided by temperature controlled glasshouses (i.e. controlled environmental conditions—CEC) may provide significant benefits for the assessment of grain dormancy. In this study, the dormancy phenotype of grain grown under CEC incorporating an extended photoperiod, was compared with 2 years of data from field grown material. Four dormant double haploid lines (derived from SW95-50213 and AUS1408) and two locally adapted non-dormant cultivars EGA Gregory and EGA Wills were compared in three replicated experiments grown under CEC (22 ± 3°C and 24 h photoperiod). The germination response of harvest-ripe grain was examined to assess the expression of grain dormancy. Two measures of germination, the predicted time to 50% germination (G ₅₀) and a weighted germination index, both clearly differentiated dormant and non-dormant lines grown under CEC. In addition, levels of grain dormancy were similar to field-grown plants. These results demonstrated that CEC with an extended photoperiod can be used for rapid and reliable characterisation of grain dormancy in fixed lines of bread wheat.     

A study of grain dormancy and viability in spring barley

In field experiments carried out between 1989 and 1991, spring barley was sampled to observe changes in the grain viability and dormancy during grain filling. The weather during the grain filling periods of 1989 and 1990 was unusually warm and dry, and the crop in 1989 was affected by drought. Some grains were capable of germination shortly after anthesis, but were dormant. Dormancy declined with increasing maturity, but was prolonged by low temperatures and reduced by warm weather. Differences were found in the dormancy characteristics of the two cultivars tested. Apart from grains at the extremities of the ear, which were sometimes found to be small and with low viability and greater dormancy, though not significantly so, no consistent differences were found between the viability and dormancy of grains in different positions in the ear.     

Variation in dormancy duration of the U.K. wheat cultivar Hornet due to environmental conditions during grain development

Dormancy of wheat grains, the property conferring sprouting resistance, is affected by environmental conditions experienced during grain development. We investigated the hypothesis that short dormancy duration in U.K. wheat grain (thus a high risk of post-maturity sprouting) is related to weather conditions, i.e. high temperatures during grain development. Four wheat varieties were grown at four sites ranging from the far south to the far north of the country in the years 1995–1997,ensuring different temperature and rainfall conditions during grain development. This paper focuses on one variety, Hornet, which has a high sprouting resistance rating. Other varieties gave similar results. Serial laboratory germination tests (seven days, 20°C) at 100°C-dayintervals were used to measure dormancy duration, which was assessed from logistic curves fitted to the data. During the experiment the mean temperatures during grain development differed by over4°C, due to the site × year effect. Significant effects (p>0.05) of site and year (i.e. weather) on dormancy were found, when definitions of dormancy duration of D_A (number of days from anthesis to 50% germination in seven days at 20°C) or D_P (number of days from physiological maturity at 45% grain moisture to 50% germination) were used. Dormancy was markedly shorter in the hot, dry year 1995 compared to the cooler, wetter years 1996 and 1997. A relationship, as postulated by Belderok, between accumulated temperature during the dough stage of grain filling and dormancy duration was not found. However, a relationship of dormancy duration to the mean temperature during grain development was found, with short dormancy periods occurring after high mean temperatures were experienced. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Screening for grain dormancy in segregating generations of dormant × non-dormant crosses in white-grained wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a significant problem. Introgression of genes controlling grain dormancy into white-grained bread wheat is one means of improving resistance to PHS. In this study seven dormant (containing the SW95-50213 and AUS1408 sources) × non-dormant crosses were produced to investigate the effectiveness of selection for grain dormancy in early segregating generations. Each generation (F₁–F₄) was grown in a temperature controlled glasshouse with an extended photoperiod (i.e. continuous light). F₂ and F₃ generations were subject to selection. Five hundred harvest-ripe grains were tested for germination over a 14 day period, and the 100 most dormant grains were retained and grown-on to produce the next generation within each cross. The response to selection was assessed through analysis of the time to 50% germination (G₅₀) in the F₂, F₃ and F₄ generations. In addition, changes in marker class frequencies for two SSR markers (barc170 and gpw2279) flanking a known quantitative trait locus (QTL) for grain dormancy on chromosome 4A were assessed in DNA from F₂ plants selected from early germinating (non-dormant) and late germinating (dormant) phenotypic extremes within each cross. Selection for grain dormancy in the F₂ and F₃ generations effectively recovered the dormant phenotype in all seven crosses, i.e. the F₄ generation was not significantly different from the dormant parent. Further, selection based on individual F₂ grains changed marker class frequencies for the 4A dormancy QTL; in most cases eliminating the marker class homozygous for the non-dormant alleles. Application of this screening method will enable breeders to better select for grain dormancy and may lead to development of new cultivars offering effective resistance to PHS in the near future.     

Novel resistance to pre-harvest sprouting in Australian wheat from the wild relative Triticum tauschii

The diploid D-genome progenitor of hexaploid wheat, Triticum tauschii (Coss.) Schmahl., was screened to identify mechanisms for resistance to pre-harvest sprouting. A number of promising mechanisms were identified, and transferred to hexaploid wheat via wide-hybridisation. One identified mechanism, an inhibitory phenolic compound present in the bracts surrounding the grain, has been shown to function effectively in synthetic hexaploid wheats. A number of seed-borne dormancy mechanisms were also identified. Expression of embryo dormancy in synthetic hexaploid wheats was demonstrated when compared with non-dormant hexaploid wheat. Effects of the seed coat on dormancy were also studied, with the seed coat of synthetic hexaploids accelerating rather than inhibiting germination. Embryo dormancy was also demonstrated in two `direct-cross' hybrids. The results suggest that a combination of the described mechanisms may produce white wheats with resistance to pre-harvest sprouting adequate for most Australian climatic conditions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic analysis of pre-harvest sprouting in a durum wheat cross

Pre-harvest sprouting of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) reduces commercial grade, although the actual effects on processing quality are controversial. Little is known about the genetics of the dormancy component of pre-harvest sprouting resistance in durum. We studied the segregation of dormancy in 98 recombinant inbred lines from a cross of a relatively non-dormant line, CI13102, with a moderately dormant line, Kyle. The lines and parents were grown in field tests over three years, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Spikes were collected at approximately 20% moisture and stored at −23 ∘C. Hand-threshed grain of the lines was germinated, and number of seeds germinated was counted each day. A germination resistance index was calculated to characterize dormancy. Dormancy appeared to be complexly inherited in this cross. Lines were observed that were significantly (P < 0.05) more dormant than the parents. The lines transgressive for dormancy expressed in different combinations of the three environments, indicating an environmental interaction. DNA of lines and parents was tested with simple sequence repeat primers and AFLPs that were used in quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of dormancy. Significant QTLs for dormancy were found, with the most notable being on chromosome 1A, where other QTLs for pre-harvest sprouting resistance have been reported in common wheat.     

The effect of water and nitrogen availability during grain filling on the timing of dormancy release in malting barley crops

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) causes immediate loss of seed viability, making barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grains worthless for malting purposes. Grain dormancy release rate in barley crops is genetically and environmentally controlled. A 2 year experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil nitrogen and water availability during grain filling on the dormancy release pattern (and then on the PHS susceptibility) for five malting barley commercial cultivars. Drought and well-irrigated control treatments were imposed from anthesis onwards, and contrast nitrogen fertilization treatments were applied at tillering. Nitrogen availability showed no effects on dormancy release. Drought during grain filling accelerated dormancy release with respect to well-irrigated control in 2004, but not in 2005 year. Mean temperatures during the last stages of grain filling were much higher (ca. 6°C) in 2005 than in 2004, indicating that high-dormancy loss promoting temperatures had masked drought effects on dormancy release.     

Gene action controlling yield and yield‐related traits among tef (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) populations under drought‐stressed and nonstressed conditions

This study was aimed to determine gene action for grain yield and yield‐related traits of newly developed tef populations under drought‐stressed and nonstressed conditions to improve drought tolerance. Ten crosses, along with the parents, were evaluated in the F₂ generation under drought‐stressed conditions at Hastebo and Adigdad sites in 2015 and Dura site in 2016 and under nonstressed conditions at Dura site in 2016. Additive gene action predominantly controlled the inheritance of the grain yield and majority of the yield‐related traits under drought‐stressed and nonstressed conditions. Under both test conditions, the genotypes DZ‐Cr‐387 and 9415 were the best general combiners for increased grain yield and morphological traits. Conversely, genotype 222076 was the best general combiner for reduced maturity period only. The selected parents are novel genetic materials for tef breeding programmes to improve grain yield and morphological traits with reduced days to maturity for drought tolerance breeding. The family of the cross DZ‐Cr‐387 × 222076 was selected for high grain yield and early maturity in both the drought‐stressed and nonstressed environments.     

小麦胚休眠中ABA信号转导的蛋白质组分析

利用ABA处理休眠和不休眠小麦品种的胚，并通过双向电泳－质谱技术，比较其蛋白质表达情况。结果发现, 共有18个ABA反应型蛋白点的表达存在显著差异。经MALDI-TOF-MS检测及肽指纹图谱（PMF）分析，其中16个蛋白点在有关数据库中得到了归属鉴定。进一步对这16个蛋白及其特性进行综合分析，认为其涉及不同的反应途径，如胁迫反应（冷调蛋白、热激蛋白和醛脱氢酶）、信号交互反应（生长素反应蛋白、乙烯感应因子、钙依赖的蛋白激酶CP4和乙烯反应蛋白），以及种子的基本发育过程（LEA蛋白、Em蛋白、bZIP转录因子、锌指蛋白、myb家系转录因子、淀粉合成酶和纤维素酶等）。另外还有2个是功能未知的蛋白，其中之一在已测序的水稻中具有全长的cDNA；另一个经ESI-MS/MS检测，认为是ABA信号转导系统中的一个新组分。对上述2个蛋白分别从籽粒发育不同阶段、不同浓度ABA处理，以及休眠中和打破休眠后这2种状态下不同温育时间等方面来验证其表达与休眠性状之间的关系，结果发现它们在籽粒发育中后期大量合成，与胚休眠性获得的时间是一致的。用同样浓度的ABA处理，这2个蛋白在休眠胚中更易于表达，而在打破休眠的胚中需要5倍的ABA浓度才能得到相同的表达效果；在用无菌水浸润期间，休眠胚中该蛋白表达水平下降的速率迟于后熟胚中，且随着休眠的打破，该蛋白也消失了。推测其表达可能与休眠性的获得与解除有关。对控制该蛋白表达的基因进行克隆与功能鉴定可能为小麦抗穗发芽育种提供候选位点。     

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.     

Assessment of Groundnut under Combined Heat and Drought Stress

In semi‐arid regions, particularly in the Sahel, water and high‐temperature stress are serious constraints for groundnut production. Understanding of combined effects of heat and drought on physiological traits, yield and its attributes is of special significance for improving groundnut productivity. Two hundred and sixty‐eight groundnut genotypes were evaluated in four trials under both intermittent drought and fully irrigated conditions, two of the trial being exposed to moderate temperature, while the two other trials were exposed to high temperature. The objectives were to analyse the component of the genetic variance and their interactions with water treatment, year and environment (temperature) for agronomic characteristics, to select genotypes with high pod yield under hot‐ and moderate‐temperature conditions, or both, and to identify traits conferring heat and/or drought tolerance. Strong effects of water treatment (Trt), genotype (G) and genotype‐by‐treatment (GxTrt) interaction were observed for pod yield (Py), haulm yield (Hy) and harvest index (HI). The pod yield decrease caused by drought stress was 72 % at high temperature and 55 % at moderate temperature. Pod yield under well‐watered (WW) conditions did not decrease under high‐temperature conditions. Haulm yield decrease caused by water stress (WS) was 34 % at high temperature and 42 % under moderate temperature. Haulm yield tended to increase under high temperature, especially in one season. A significant year effect and genotype‐by‐environment interaction (GxE) effect were also observed for the three traits under WW and WS treatments. The GGE biplots confirmed these large interactions and indicated that high yielding genotypes under moderate temperature were different to those at high temperature. However, several genotypes with relatively high yield across years and temperature environments could be identified under both WW and WS conditions. Correlation analysis between pod weight and traits measured during plant growth showed that the partition rate, that is, the proportion of dry matter partitioned into pods, was contributing in heat and drought tolerance and could be a reliable selection criterion for groundnut breeding programme. Groundnut sensitivity to high‐temperature stress was in part related to the sensitivity of reproduction.     

Identification of genomic regions associated with seed dormancy in white-grained wheat

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in developing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spikes is stimulated by cool and wet weather and leads to a decline in grain quality. A low level of harvest-time seed dormancy is a major factor for PHS, which generally is a larger problem in white-grained as compared to red-grained wheat. We have in this study analyzed seed dormancy levels at the 92nd Zadok growth stage of spike development in a doubled-haploid (DH) white wheat population and associated variation for the trait with regions on the wheat genome. The phenotypic data was generated by growing the parent lines Argent (non-dormant) and W98616 (dormant) and 151 lines of the DH population in the field during 2002 and 2003, at two locations each year, followed by assessment of harvest-time seed dormancy by germination tests. A genetic map of 2681 cM was constructed for the population upon genotyping 90 DH lines using 361 SSR, 292 AFLP, 252 DArT and 10 EST markers. Single marker analysis of the 90 genotyped lines associated regions on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 3A, 4A, 5B, 6B, and 7A with seed dormancy in at least two out of the four trials. All seven putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were contributed by alleles of the dormant parent, W98616. The strongest QTLs positioned on chromosomes 1A, 3A, 4A and 7A were confirmed by interval mapping and markers at these loci have potential use in marker-assisted selection of PHS resistant white-grained wheat.     

Evaluation of Grain Filling Rate and Duration in Bread and Durum Wheat, under Heat Stress after Anthesis

Bread and durum wheat genotypes were submitted to heat stress during the grain filling period, and relationships between grain weight and accumulated time from anthesis until maturity, using days after anthesis and growing degree days, were described by cubic polynomials. Maximum grain weight and the duration and rate of grain filling were estimated from the fitted curves. It was found that bread and durum wheat exposure to high temperatures significantly decreased grain weight and hastens physiological maturity (shortening the grain filling period). High temperatures significantly affected the rate (on a growing degree day basis) and duration (on Julian day units) of grain filling. The grain filling rate, on a thermal time basis, was positively associated with the final grain weight and the estimated maximum grain weight. The duration of grain filling does not appear to be a limiting factor for genotype grain weight stability, being mainly fixed by temperature. Grain weight of the controlled plants was positively correlated with the final and maximum grain weight of heat stressed plants. It was concluded that a high grain filling rate and a high potential grain weight are major traits that can be useful to improve heat tolerance of Triticum under Mediterranean environments.     

Breeding of white-grained wheats for Japan

The possibility of breeding white-grained wheats tolerant to pre-harvest sprouting under Japanese humid weather conditions is discussed. New genetic dormancy sources, such as, AUS1408, 8019R1 and RyuuMai7, were evaluated for seed dormancy in different weather conditions. Some white-grained dormant wheats showed a strong dormancy similar to that of red-grained dormant wheats in a greenhouse trial, in the field their dormancy expression was much less than the red wheats. Three populations involving crosses with these new sources for winter wheat breeding were examined under repeated selection for seed dormancy. Some dormant white-grained lines, as judged under glasshouse conditions, were developed. Again the level of dormancy in these lines was not sufficient compared to red dormant varieties in field trial. In order to develop truly superior dormant white-grained materials, one population involving crosses with two dormant varieties, AUS1408 and 8019R1, was examined under repeated selection. From these materials we succeeded in breeding lines that had not only a good dormancy but also showed adaptation to Japanese weather conditions, including earliness, scab resistance and good seed appearance. However again the dormancy of these lines in field trial was not sufficient compared to that of red wheats and there was not a clear difference for seed dormancy between breeding lines and their parents. We conclude therefore that more work involving the use of new genetic sources or new breeding techniques, will be necessary for breeding advanced lines that maintain a sufficient tolerance to PHS in humid Japanese weather condition. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Response of Wheat Grain to ABA and Imbibition at Low Temperature

During after-ripening of wheat grains, embryo responsiveness to abscisic acid (ABA) decreases in parallel with the loss of grain dormancy. Dormant grains of Triticum aestivum L. line ‘Kitakei-1354’ that had lost almost half their dormancy due to chilling still respond to ABA like fully dormant grains. Imbibition a: low temperature appears to break the dormancy without change of embryo responsiveness to ABA. Gibberellin (GA) and ABA-regulated α-amylase synthesis of the embryos. This is amplified when the grains are imbibed at low temperature. Imbibition at low temperature appears to condition cells and tissues of the embryo for germination and α-amylase synthesis.     

Application of natural plant extracts improves the tolerance against combined terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat

Drought and heat are among the main abiotic stresses causing severe damage to the cereal productivity when occur at reproductive stages. In this study, ten wheat cultivars were screened for combined heat and drought tolerance imposed at booting, heading, anthesis and post‐anthesis stages, and role of the foliage applied plant extracts was evaluated in improving the performance of differentially responding wheat cultivars under terminal heat and drought stresses. During both years, wheat crop was raised under ambient temperature and 70% water holding capacity (WHC) till leaf boot stage. The plant extracts (3% each) of sorghum, brassica, sunflower and moringa were foliage applied at booting, anthesis and post‐anthesis stage; and after one week of application of these plant extracts, combined heat and drought was imposed at each respective stage. Heat and drought stresses were imposed at each respective stage by placing pots in glass canopies with temperature of 4 ± 2°C above than the ambient temperature in combination with drought stress (35% WHC) until maturity. Combination of drought and heat stresses significantly reduced the performance of tested wheat cultivars; however, stress at the booting and heading stages was more damaging than the anthesis and post‐anthesis stages. Cultivars Mairaj‐2008 and Chakwal‐50 remained green with extended duration for grain filling, resulting in the maintenance of number of grains per spike and 100‐grain weight under stress conditions and thus had better grain yield and water‐use efficiency. However, in cultivars Fsd‐2008, and Shafaq‐2006, the combined imposition of drought and heat accelerated the grain filling rate with decrease in grain filling duration, grain weight and grain yield. Foliar application of all the plant extracts improved the wheat performance under terminal heat and drought stress; however, brassica extract was the most effective. This improvement in grain yield, water‐use efficiency and transpiration efficiency due to foliage applied plant extracts, under terminal heat and drought stress, was owing to better stay‐green character and accumulation of more soluble phenolics, which imparted stress tolerance as indicated by relatively stable grain weight and grain number. In crux, growing of stay‐green wheat cultivars with better grain filling and foliage application of plant extracts may help improving the performance of bread wheat under combined heat and drought stresses.     

冬小麦品种生育后期的耐热性评价

冬小麦品种生育后期耐热性遗传差异的表现受环境影响较大。通过1997～2000年间在北京对群体气-冠温差、灌浆特性、热感指数等三种耐热性评价方法有效性的比较研究，认为热感指数反映品种对后期热胁迫的敏感程度，利用千粒重热感指数可鉴定出后期耐热性较好的基因型。气-冠温差法快速、简便、准确，但叶片持绿期长的品种气-冠温差一般较大，可结合对灌浆速率的评价来筛选生育期适中的耐热基因型。在3年的试验中，小麦品种鲁936098表现耐热性强，千粒重稳定。     

Wheat ABA-insensitive mutants result in reduced grain dormancy

This paper describes the isolation of wheat mutants in the hard red spring Scarlet resulting in reduced sensitivity to the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination. ABA induces seed dormancy during embryo maturation and inhibits the germination of mature seeds. Wheat sensitivity to ABA gradually decreases with dry after-ripening. Scarlet grain normally fails to germinate when fully dormant, shows ABA sensitive germination when partially after-ripened, and becomes ABA insensitive when after-ripened for 8?C12?months. Scarlet ABA-insensitive (ScABI) mutants were isolated based on the ability to germinate on 5???M ABA after only 3?weeks of after-ripening, a condition under which Scarlet would fail to germinate. Six independent seed-specific mutants were recovered. ScABI1, ScABI2, ScABI3 and ScABI4 are able to germinate more efficiently than Scarlet at up to 25???M ABA. The two strongest ABA insensitive lines, ScABI3 and ScABI4, both proved to be partly dominant suggesting that they result from gain-of-function mutations. The ScABI1, ScABI2, ScABI3, ScABI4, and ScABI5 mutants after-ripen more rapidly than Scarlet. Thus, ABA insensitivity is associated with decreased grain dormancy in Scarlet wheat. This suggests that ABA sensitivity is an important factor controlling grain dormancy in wheat, a trait that impacts seedling emergence and pre-harvest sprouting resistance.     

The effects of cis-trans ABA on embryo germination and seed dormancy in wheat

Pre-harvest sprouting of wheat grain can cause economic losses especially in cultivars with low levels of seed dormancy. The aim of this study was to determine genotype differences in embryo sensitivity to germination in response to exogenous (+/–) cis-trans ABA treatments at different concentrations. Six white and four red seed-colored bread wheat genotypes that differed in dormancy were grown in a field near Swift Current, Saskatchewan in 2000 as a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The seed samples from this experiment were germinated in a controlled environment at 20 °C without light. The exogenous ABA treatments were 0 μM – whole seed (control), 0 μM-embryos, 25 μM – embryos and 50 μM – embryos. The ABA experiment was a factorial design with four randomized complete blocks with four ABA treatments in all combinations with the ten genotypes. A weighted (by day) germination index (WGI) was calculated for each genotype in each ABA treatment. Genotypes differed in response to ABA. The genotypes, ABA concentration and genotype by ABA concentration interaction effects were significant (p ≤ 0.05). Excised embryos showed significantly decreased dormancy in most of the experimental genotypes. The addition of exogenous ABA enhanced embryo dormancy of most genotypes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Selection of Barley Lines for Drought Tolerance in Low-Rainfall Areas

An experiment was conducted at five locations in Jordan (Khanasri, annual rainfall 150 mm; Ramtha, 225 mm; Muwaqar, 150 mm; Rabba, 350 mm; Ghweer, 250 mm) during the 1996/1997 growing season, to evaluate the yield performance and some agronomic traits of 84 barley breeding lines and three long‐term checks (Zanbaka, Arta and Klaxon) for drought tolerance. An α‐lattice design with two replications and six incomplete blocks for each replication was used. Genotype 6 (WI2291/Tadmor) was found to be superior in grain yield, especially compared to the best check (Arta) at the two wettest locations (Rabba and Ghweer). Genotype 21 (Mo.B1337/WI2291/5/Emir/Sb//CM67/3/F8‐HB‐854‐23/121//148‐221/4/CI 08887/CI05761) out‐yielded the best check (Arta) at the driest location (Khanasri), while genotype 61 (Salmas/Arabia Aswad) produced a higher grain yield than the best check (Zanbaka) at Ramtha. The correlations amongst grain yield, biological yield, straw yield, plant height and harvest index were always significant and positive regardless of the location. The correlations amongst days to heading, days to maturity and grain yield were significant at the two driest locations only. This suggests that different phonologies are required to maximize grain yield in wet and dry environments. Also, the relationship between grain yield and the length of grain‐filling period was positive in the wettest location (Rabba), negative in the driest (Khanasri) and not significant at the two intermediate locations. These results emphasize the importance of selection in the target environment and the need to develop early‐maturing genotypes as a way of withstanding drought and high temperatures during the grain‐filling period. A high and negative correlation coefficient was found between the drought susceptibility index and grain yield at the driest site, whereas at the wettest site the correlation coefficient was lower and in some cases positive, indicating the existence of traits that are desirable under drought and undesirable under favourable conditions.