Characterization of Wheat Genotypes for Sustainable Production in the Face of Changing Climatic Conditions

Abstract

One of the many challenging abiotic factors affecting wheat growth and yield in arid and semiarid regions is drought. This research conducted during the years 2022-2023, involved the evaluation of 100 wheat genotypes. In this experiment, explored the seedling-stage responses, revealing that genotypes such as G33, G68, and G29 demonstrated superior growth and water regulation under normal and drought conditions in most of the studied traits. Conversely, G99, G84, and G91 exhibited lower mean values, indicating these genotypes as a drought susceptible. The results emphasized the importance of selecting genotypes with favorable traits for enhanced drought tolerance and improved yield potential. The study's importance lies in the identification of genotypes with resilient traits under water stress, providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at developing drought-tolerant spring wheat varieties. The results and discussions presented the genetic variability in wheat and offer practical implications for sustainable crop production in the face of changing climatic conditions.