TOLERANCE TO DROUGHT STRESS OF CROATIAN WINTER WHEAT GENOTYPES AT SEEDLING STAGE

Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses affecting agricultural productivity and may result in considerable yield reduction. Tolerance to drought stress at seedling stage was examined for 26 winter wheat genotypes (T aestivum L.). Drought stress at -0.5 and -1.0 MPa of water potential was simulated with polyethylene glycol 8000. According to root fresh weight (RFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW) and ratio RFW : SFW, all expressed as percentage of control average, and shoot dry weight (SDW) of nine days old seedlings, genotypes that tolerate drought stress at seedling stage were identified. Tolerance at seedling stage showed significant correlation with tolerance to drought stress at heading and grain filling period. Drought tolerance at seedling stage determined by mentioned particular traits could, therefore, be indicator of drought tolerance at heading and grain filling period.