Genetic variation in wheat upon water deficit stress to a range of low temperature regime at high altitude

The performance of seven improved cultivars of wheat genotypes were examined on field trials at cool climatic conditions of high hills (2100 m above mean sea level) under normal and water deficit stress situations during 2003-04 and 2005-06, respectively. Results revealed that highest yielding genotypes at stress situation did not produce higher yield under normal condition. Variation in heritability was observed between two environments. Low heritability and low gains from selection in stress environment made it difficult to identify suitable genotypes for high grain yield and greater harvest index. Drought susceptibility index was associated with grain yield differences of a cultivar between two environments and was failed to detect superior genotypes. Additive gene effect of biomass under normal situation and non-additive gene effect of seed weight and grain yield, respectively, in stress and non-stress condition could be utilized for the improvement of wheat cultivars suitable for higher elevation of hills. Two genotypes (viz., SKW 196 and VL 738) were preferred for cultivation as they performed well both in stress and non-stress conditions.