Breeding wheat for tolerance to drought at the cereal research non-profit company

Abstract

At the Cereal Research Non-Profit Co. two decades ago we developed a selection program for drought
tolerance of wheat by the chemical desiccation method and the flag leaves’ water retention ability (CSEUZ ET
AL., 2002). As our testing methods were developing, after we started irrigation tests, we begin to select for
drought tolerance by the remote thermometry of canopy surface (photosynthetic activity during drought
stress). Since the year 2006 a mobile automatic rain shelter helps the selection for the tolerance to water
shortages per se in the field. In this test we evaluate 50-60 advanced wheat lines together the check varieties
are planted under the rain shelter and in the control (irrigated) treatment yearly.
The 0.33 m2 plots are planted in three replications in both treatments. During the life cycle of the genotypes
we evaluate the changes of the most important agronomy characters (plant height, heading and flowering
date, canopy temperature measurements data, thousand kernel mass, and grain yield) due to the water
withdrawal.
Also important information can be got from the multi-location yield trials especially at drier locations and/or
in drier years. The advance in drought tolerance can be found among our latest registered wheat varieties and
numerous new winter wheat candidates with a higher level of adaptability to dry environments: wheat
varieties GK Csongrád (2001), GK Hunyad (2005), GK Békés (2005), GK Csillag (2005), GK Berény (2010)
are reputed tolerant, and performed very well under stress conditions, too.