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USE OF NET PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND WATER-USEEFFICIENCY IN BREEDING WHEAT FOR DROUGHT RESISTANCE

TANWIR AHMAD MALIK AND DAVID WRIGHT*

Abstract: A series of experiments were conducted in pot and lysimeter conditions to evaluate net photosynthesis and water-use-efficiency as breeding criteria for drought resistance. Six drought resistant and 6 drought susceptible genotypes were used. Net photosynthesis decreased under drought which was caused mainly by non stomatal factors. Genotypes with the same stomatal conductance had different net photosynthesis under suggesting that genotypes with high water-use-efficiency can be tailored. Measurement of net photosynthesis and water-use-efficiency can thus be used as breeding criteria for drought resistance.

Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, U.K.