Characterization of Bread Wheat Genotypes for Drought Stress Adaptation

Drought stress is a major abiotic constraint that significantly affects crop productivity, including bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The aim of the current study is to characterize different bread wheat genotypes and determine the key traits associated with drought stress adaptation. A total of 20 bread wheat genotypes were evaluated under normal and drought stress conditions. The genotypes were assessed for various physiological, phenological, and agronomic attributes. The data were analyzed using appropriate multivariate statistical methods to identify genotypes with superior drought tolerance. The results revealed significant variations in drought stress responses among the bread wheat genotypes. Several genotypes, such as BLUE SILVER, AAS 2002, NARC 11, BORLAUG-16, and NARC SUPER exhibited promising traits related to drought stress adaptation in terms of yield -related traits and growth maintenance under drought conditions. Principal component analysis accounted for 71.2% and 75.0% of the total variance in the datasets under drought and normal conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the hierarchical cluster analysis grouped most wheat genotypes together under normal conditions, while greater variability in response was observed under drought stress. These findings provide valuable insights into the selection of bread wheat genotypes with improved drought tolerance, aiding breeders in developing drought resilient cultivars for sustainable agriculture.