Drought stress has become a significant abiotic stress for wheat in Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore drought tolerance in Bangladeshi wheat based on morpho-physiological and molecular traits. Ten wheat genotypes selected based on the previous research were grown in pots under control (100% field capacity) and drought stress (30% field capacity), applied from third leaf stage till maturity.

Drought stress affected the yield contributing characters and significantly reduced grain yield. Drought susceptibility index and drought tolerance efficiency were used as criteria for selection. Sonalika, Sourav, and BARI gom-28 were least affected and emerged as drought tolerant.

Polymorphism information content (PIC) and Nei’s (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 70:3321–3323; 1973) gene diversity were 0.69 and 0.73, respectively. 

Warm Regards,

Angelina

Advances in Crop Science and Technology Journal