Improving drought resistance in small-grained cereals: A case study, progress and prospects

Drought is a serious problem in many parts of the world where wheat, barley and other small-grained cereals are part of the staple diets. Even in parts of South-eastern Europe, seasonal rainfall for winter cereals has been falling gradually for many years. Thus, since 1981 across three sites in Yugoslavia (Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Zajecar), rainfall fell from a mean of 511 mm for October to July in 1981-1982 to about 453 mm during the same period for the 1995-1996 season. Nevertheless, average wheat yields for new varieties in Yugoslav Commission trials during this period have shown a steady increase from 7.6 to 8.8 t ha(-1). This is due to increasing the yield potential of the new varieties, even in trials giving low average yields, caused largely by drought. Thus, breeders in Yugoslavia are succeeding in improving drought resistance in new wheat varieties. However, future progress in improving drought resistance may be helped by focusing on specific traits which will help to improve either crop water use, water-use efficiency or harvest index. Thus, for example, rapid early leaf area development not only improves subsequent crop growth rates, but increases competition with weeds for water and nutrients. The rate of leaf area development is closely associated with embryo size, so selection for large embryo size should improve early growth rates. Osmotic adjustment in wheat in response to drought appears to be important for maintaining yields, and selection for high osmotic adjustment has improved drought yields. Carbon 13 discrimination (Delta) is an integral measure of plant water-use efficiency. Selecting for low Delta has also resulted in increased yield under drought conditions. Other constitutive and induced traits, such as phenology, leaf xeromorphy, excised-leaf water loss, rooting behaviour, senescence and stored assimilates are also discussed in relation to improving yields in small-grain crops. Opportunities for marker-assisted selection are also considered. Incorporating specific drought resistance traits in breeding programmes should facilitate more rapid improvement in the drought resistance of wheat and other small-grained cereals.