MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CRITERIA FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE AT SEEDLING STAGE IN WHEAT

The current research work was conducted to identify drought tolerant wheat genotypes after passing through screening criteria at seedling stage in wheat. Fifty wheat genotypes were studied for Emergence percentage, Emergence Index, Emergence rate Index, Energy of emergence and Relative Cell Injury (RCI) under normal and drought conditions. The data regarding germination traits and relative cell injury exposed significant differences among genotypes (P>0.01). Out of 50 genotypes, eight were termed as drought tolerant, ten moderately drought tolerant and thirty two drought susceptible. Among drought tolerant group, Chakwal-50 was the most drought tolerant genotype followed by 6302 and Chakwal-86. Whereas in drought susceptible group, Lasani-08 was the most susceptible genotype followed by Faisalabad-08 and Sehar-06. Strongest correlation was observed between emergence index and emergence percentage. RCI had negative association with germination traits.