Abdul Aziz Khakwani, M. D. Dennett, and M. Munir

pp. 135 - 142

Abstract

Plants of six wheat varieties (Damani, Hashim-8, Gomal-8, DN-73, Zam-04, and Dera-98) were grown under three water
regimes i.e. 100% Field Capacity (FC), 35% FC and 25% FC. Results of this experiment showed highly significant difference
among wheat varieties in all the studied traits and water stress conditions decreased them significantly. The superior variety
Hashim-8 which indicated higher relative water content (RWC), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP)
and stress tolerance index (STI) whereas stress susceptibility index (SSI) and tolerance (TOL) was observed at its lowest.
These traits are recognized as beneficial drought tolerance indicators for selecting a stress tolerant variety. Similarly, total
grain yield per plant, biological yield per plant and harvest index was also higher in the same wheat variety, which put it as
a good candidate for selection criteria in wheat breeding program for drought resistance.