ARS | Publication request: Reflectance based characterization of wheat cultivars for identifying drought tolerance in the Southern Great Plains

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 5, 2012
Publication Date: October 23, 2012
Citation: Ajayi, S., Krishnareddy, S., Liu, S., Gowda, P., Xue, Q., Marek, T.H., Rudd, J., Biradar, C.M., Jessup, K. 2012. Reflectance based characterization of wheat cultivars for identifying drought tolerance in the Southern Great Plains [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. 2012 CDROM. Paper No. 244-12.

Technical Abstract: In the U.S. Southern Great Plains (SGP), drought stress is the single most important factor for reducing yield in winter wheat. Selection of drought tolerant wheat cultivars has been and will continue to be a critical strategy for wheat management under limited water conditions. Currently, yield is still the primary trait used in cultivar selection. It is largely unknown as to which other traits contribute to drought tolerance in wheat genotypes in the SGP. Spectral reflectance indices have been used to differentiate genotypes for yield potential and water relations. However, little information is known for the genotypic differences in spectral indices and their relations to drought tolerance in the SGP. The objective of our study was to characterize genotypic variation in various spectral reflectance indices, and their relations to drought tolerance in wheat cultivars. Field experiments have been conducted using twenty wheat cultivars with a wide genetic background. Cultivars were grown under different soil water regimes from dryland, to limited irrigation, to full irrigation. Measurements included spectral reflectance, canopy temperature, leaf area index, biomass and yield. Results from this study enabled development of spectral-based screening tools for identifying drought tolerant wheat genotypes in the SGP.