Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Bread Wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.) For Drought Resistance
Abstract
The present study evaluated three wheat genotypes (SD-28, SD-32 and
Chirya-1) were evaluated for physiological attributes like Relative
Water Content, Proline Content, Membrane Stability Index and Chlorophyll
Content where Opata was used as a control check under three different
levels of drought stress (100% FC, 80% FC and 60% FC). Results
revealed that chlorophyll content was significantly affected under
stressed conditions in all the studied genotypes and genotypes.
Molecular diagnosis of the selected wheat genotypes and genotypes was
carried out with RT-PCR using expression profile of 06 genes (TaLhca1,
TaLhca2, TaLhca3, TaLhcb1, TaLhcb4 and TaLhcb6) that encodes for LHCI
and LHCII proteins. RT–PCR indicated variable expression of the
selected genes in response to different level of drought stress. The
results obtained clearly showed the relation between genotypes and
severity of drought stress condition. Among the studied genotypes
Chirya-1 and SD-28 performed well with higher level of gene expression
under drought stress condition; and may be considered drought tolerant
genotypes with potential to enrich the genetic background of locally
adapted wheat lines against drought stress.