Multi-trait-based identification of water use efficient genotypes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was conducted to identify high-yielding and water-use-efficient bread wheat genotypes. Seventeen genotypes were grown at three irrigation levels (WL), including 100, 80, and 60% of the reference evapotranspiration (ET), which were estimated based on a decision support tool. The pooled analysis of variance depicted significant genotype × environment interactions (GEI) (p <0.001) for all the traits studied, except number of tillers/sq. m and NDVI before reproductive phase (NDVIB) and NDVI after reproductive phase (NDVIA). The average grain yield (GY) at 100% ET was 5178 kg ha^-1, which was reduced by 5.28 and 11.40% at 80 and 60% ET, respectively. NDVIB and NDVIA were remarkably decreased by 22.09 and 11.38% at 60% ET. The water use efficiency (WUE) showed an increasing trend with reduced irrigation levels and varied from 1.72-1.90, 1.93-2.30, and 2.27-2.85 kg m^-3 at 100, 80, and 60% ET, respectively. The GY and WUE revealed positive and significant correlation (r=0.99***) at the 60% ET. The genotypes, namely 40^th ESWYT-33, 40^th ESWYT-07, 40^th ESWYT-37 and RWP-2018-32, were found promising for GY and WUE at 80% ET, while 40^th ESWYT-07 also performed better at the 60% ET.