Evaluation of grain yield indices in hexaploid wheat genotypes in response to drought stress

Drought stress limits crop production in the world. Therefore, employing high-yielding cultivars tolerant to drought is an effective approach to reduce its detrimental effects. To identify drought-tolerant genotypes, 36 wheat genotypes were evaluated during the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 growth seasons. A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with two irrigation treatments (100% field capacity (FC) until harvest and no irrigation after anthesis) as main plots in three replications and genotypes as subplots. Grain yield, its components and drought tolerance indices were measured. Results showed a significant reduction in yield and its components under drought conditions. Grain yield had significant positive correlations with stress tolerance index (STI), mean productivity (MP) index and geometric mean productivity (GMP), while it was negatively correlated with stress susceptibility index (SSI) and tolerance index (TOL) under stress condition. These results indicated that superior genotypes could be selected based on high values of STI, MP and GMP and low value of SSI. The results were validated by principal component analysis (PCA) as it showed genotypes with high PC1 and low PC2 were more desirable. Based on the results, genotypes number 8, 11, 17, 30, 34 and 35 were recognized as suitable for both conditions.     

Subcritical soil hydrophobicity in the presence of native and exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal species at different soil salinity levels

Soil salinity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence the soil hydrophobicity. An experiment was performed to determine the effects of soil salinity and AMF species on soil water repellency (SWR) under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Six AMF treatments, including four exotic species (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus claroideum, a mix of three species), one mix native AMF species treatment and an AMF-free soil in combination with four salinity levels (1, 5, 10, and 15 dS m^?1) were used. The soil repellency index (RI) increased with salinity increment ranging from 2.4 to 10.5. The mix of three exotic and native AMF treatments enhanced the RI significantly compared to AMF-free soil in all salinity levels with one exception for native treatment at 1 dS m^?1. Among individual AMF species, the C. claroideum treatment at 10 dS m^?1 increased the RI by 67% compared to AMF-free soil. The native AMF treatment was more efficient in root colonization, glomalin production and SWR development at 10 and 15 dS m^?1, compared to exotic species. In addition to the net positive effect of salinity on SWR, the AMF influences on the RI were greatly dependent on salinity levels.