A field experiment was conducted to study the physiological traits associated with terminal temperature tolerance under late sown irrigated wheat. Results revealed a significant differential genotypic variation for physiological traits with respect to grain yield and its determining attributes under high post anthesis temperature i.e. ± 4.5-6.8 ºC > 28ºC in late sowing. Genotypes, Halna, K8962, GW 173, HD2189, HD2402 and AKW381 exhibited earliness in their flowering, higher canopy temperature depression (CTD), low membrane thermo-stability index (MTI), greater seed size (1000-grain weight), longer grain growth duration and higher grain yield, thereby showed a greater degree of high temperature tolerance as compared to long duration wheat genotypes. These traits are relatively simple and easily observable and can, therefore, be used to screen large number of wheat germplasm for high temperature tolerance. Based on yielding ability, these genotypes are proposed as suitable donor for crossing programme to develop ideal plant type suitable for late sown conditions.
Canopy temperature depression, membrane thermostability index, temperature, wheat
