Performance of wheat and triticale cultivars in a variable soil-water environment. I. Grain yield stability

Abstract

Seventeen cultivars of Triticum aestivum, T. durum and triticale were grown for 5 years in irrigated and unirrigated conditions to investigate yield stability and its association with various morpho-physiological characters. Differences in rainfall and irrigation provided environments with variable water availability. Grain yield of all cultivars was reduced by drought stress and cultivars differed in their yield stability. The drought susceptibility index (S) was positively related to the regression slope of mean grain yield (Y) on the environmental index (X). On an average, T. aestivum cultivars were more drought resistant than triticales. Cultivars of T. durum were most drought susceptible. The drought resistance was not always associated with plant height. Cultivars were classified into four groups based on their yield potential and drought resistance.