Seedling survivability as a selection criterion for drought tolerance in wheat

Ninety genotypes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were screened at the seedling stage in wooden boxes in greenhouse conditions (range of temperature 25‐35°C) for moisture stress. Boxes were filled with a mixture of soil : sand : FYM in a 50 : 45 : 5 ratio. Boxes were given equal quantities of water 12 h before sowing to ensure good germination. Seeds were sown in rows at a uniform depth of 3 cm. No irrigation was provided after sowing. When most of the genotypes started wilting, the boxes were irrigated to study the recovery response (seedling survivability) of the genotypes. Based on the days taken for recovery, wheat genotypes, JWS 98, HD 2329, HW 3081, Halna and MP 1136 withered early and were grouped as susceptible, while the genotypes HI 1494, HW 2044, Kundan, NIAW 588, PBW 514 and NI 5439 resumed growth, showed a better response and were classified as drought‐tolerant. The study on mode of inheritance revealed that seedling survivability is controlled by a single dominant gene.