In-vitro Selection and Characterization of Drought-tolerant Plants of Durum-wheat (triticum-durum Desf)

Somaclonal variation has been used as a source of variability to improve the drought tolerance of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf). Of the 6 varieties currently grown ih Morocco, 3 were selected for their ability to produce calli and regenerate plants in vitro. Using polyethylene glycol 10000 in the in vitro culture medium, low external water potentials were applied during callus proliferation and plant regeneration phases to select plantlets that were tolerant to drought. Out of the 30 plants that survived the stress, 13 exhibited improved tolerance to drought compared with unselected controls, using chlorophyll fluorescence and electrolyte leakage of leaves subjected to water stress as criteria. Applying osmotic stress during the regeneration phase seemed to be the most efficient