Drought tolerant wheat varieties developed through mutation breeding technique

In search for higher yielding drought tolerant wheat varieties, one of the Kenyan high yielding variety 'Pasa' was irradiated with gamma rays (at 150, 200, and 250gy) in 1997 so as to induce variability and select for drought tolerance. Six mutants ((KM10, KM14, KM15, KM18, KM20 and KM21) were selected at M4 for their drought tolerance screening. The six mutants and 2 checks, Duma and Pasa were tested for their performance in a National performance trial. The study was carried out as a National Dryland Wheat Performance Trial in 4 sites in Kenya and selection done for two seasons, 1999 and 2000. The sites were Katumani, Naivasha, Lanet and Mogotio, which represent marginal rainfall areas in Kenya. Randomised complete block design was used and replicated three times. Data on plant height, yield and hectolitre weight were taken. The results showed that mutant line KM21 and KM14 performed significantly (

Root and shoot characteristics as selection criteria for drought tolerance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at seedling stage under tropical environment

No Abstract. Discovery and Innovation Vol. 17(1&2) 2005: 74-8