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Phenotypic Screening for Drought Tolerance in Algerian Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes under Semi-Arid Conditions
Cribado fenotípico para la tolerancia a la sequía en genotipos argelinos de trigo harinero (Triticum aestivum L.) bajo condiciones semiáridas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v79.125849Keywords:
Genetic variability, Heritability, Selection efficiency, Stress responsiveness, Yield (en)Variabilidad genética, Heredabilidad, Eficiencia de selección, Respuesta al estrés, Rendimiento (es)
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Bread wheat production in semi-arid regions is strongly constrained by environmental variability, particularly drought stress, which limits yield stability. This study evaluated the agro-morphological performance, yield components, and stress tolerance of 55 bread wheat genotypes in six different rainfed environments defined by three locations in northeastern Algeria over two cropping seasons (2021–2022 and 2022–2023), using an augmented block design. The combined analysis of variance showed highly significant effects of environment and genotype for all traits, while genotype × environment interactions were trait-dependent, being significant for spike length, thousand-kernel weight, and aboveground biomass. Environmental effects accounted for the largest share of total variation (38.76 to 81.80%). Substantial phenotypic variability was observed, with moderate to high broad-sense heritability (36.59 to 79.24%), indicating reasonable selection prospects despite pronounced environmental influence. Correlation analyses revealed that yield formation was predominantly driven by kernel number, spike density, and biomass under both conditions, while flag leaf area contributed more specifically under stress. Based on the Stress Tolerance Index, breeding line T22 followed by T2, and T23 combined high yield potential with strong stability, exhibiting the highest STI values (0.786, 0.485, and 0.463, respectively). Future breeding efforts should prioritize crossing these superior lines with locally adapted cultivars and expanding multi-environment trials across wider semi-arid agroecosystems to accelerate the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties.
La producción de trigo harinero en regiones semiáridas está fuertemente limitada por la variabilidad ambiental, en particular el estrés hídrico, que restringe la estabilidad del rendimiento. Este estudio evaluó el desempeño agromorfológico, los componentes del rendimiento y la tolerancia al estrés de 55 genotipos en seis ambientes de secano en el noreste de Argelia durante dos temporadas de cultivo (2021–2022 y 2022–2023), utilizando un diseño aumentado de bloques. El análisis combinado de varianza mostró efectos altamente significativos del ambiente y del genotipo para todos los caracteres, mientras que las interacciones genotipo × ambiente fueron significativas únicamente para la longitud de espiga, el peso de mil granos y la biomasa aérea. Los efectos ambientales explicaron la mayor proporción de la variación total (38,76 a 81,80%). Se observó variabilidad fenotípica considerable, con heredabilidad en sentido amplio de moderada a alta (36,59 a 79,24%), indicando perspectivas razonables de selección pese a la marcada influencia ambiental. Los análisis de correlación revelaron que el rendimiento estuvo determinado principalmente por el número de granos, la densidad de espigas y la biomasa, mientras que el área de la hoja bandera contribuyó más específicamente bajo estrés. Con base en el Índice de Tolerancia al Estrés, las líneas T22, T2 y T23 combinaron alto potencial de rendimiento con amplia estabilidad (0,786, 0,485 y 0,463, respectivamente). Los programas futuros deben priorizar el cruzamiento de estas líneas con cultivares localmente adaptados y ampliar los ensayos multiambientales para desarrollar variedades resilientes al clima en agroecosistemas semiáridos.
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