Molecular characterization and validation of microsatellite markers linked with grain yield components for drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was aimed to enhance breeding efficiency, parental genetic distance and conferring drought tolerance in wheat. Eight, diverse wheat genotypes were selected as parents, crosses attempted in a diallel fashion (excluding reciprocals) and 28 F1s developed. One hundred six F₂ plants taken from cross between DBW 17 (drought susceptible) and WH 1080 (drought tolerant) were evaluated. Grain yield showed significant positive correlation with effective tillers plant⁻¹, grains spike⁻¹, biomass plant⁻¹ and harvest index and significant negative correlation with days to heading and days to anthesis in F2 populations indicating the feasibility of improving grain yield. A total of 42 amplicons were detected in 106 F2 plants and the number of amplicons locus⁻¹ ranged from 1–3 with an average of 2.10 amplicons locus⁻¹. In cross DBW 17 × WH 1080 dendrogram was constructed and genotypes got clustered into eight major groups at the similarity coefficient value of 0.56. Cluster I included drought susceptible parent DBW 17 and cluster II had tolerant drought parent WH 1080. The markers showed 3.7 and 18.0% phenotypic variation in drought condition traits viz., effective tillers plant⁻¹ and coleoptile length, respectively. Marker Xgwm573 was found associated with days to heading and days to anthesis and Xgwm369 with 1000-grain weight, coleoptile length and chlorophyll content.