Morpho-physiological changes and variable yield of wheat genotypes under moisture stress conditions

A pot experiment was conducted with eight varieties of wheat grown under normal irrigation (60% ASW) and moisture stress (30% ASW) conditions, to study the effects of different soil moisture regimes on flag leaf area, relative water content (RWC), water potential (at anthesis & milk stages) and grain yield. Flag leaf area, RWC, leaf water potential and grain yield decreased significantly under soil water stress conditions, compared to normally irrigated control. Genotypes K 8027, C 306 and K 65 showed more grain yield/plant than UP 2003, K 8708, HD 2329, HUW 206 and HUW 234 under 30% available soil water conditions. K 8027 may ultimately prove to be outstanding variety under moisture stress situation since it was able to produce the highest flag leaf area, higher leafturgidity, plant water status, grain weight/main ear, grain yield/plant and harvest index. It was also observed that anthesis stage was more sensitive than milk stage.