Response of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Lines to Salinty Stress

In order to evaluate grain yield potential of bread wheat lines in salinity condition, modeling of grain yield and selection of best genotypes to use in breeding program, a collection of 100 diverse bread wheat lines, including sensitive and tolerant to salinity were grown in an incomplete block design (lattice) in salin and normal field conditions in Yazd and Kerman. Results of combined analysis of different traits showed significant differences among genotypes. Results of correlation study determined that there was significant differences among yield and majority of traits. Stepwise multiple linear regressions showed that in salin stress condition, number of seeds per spike, seed weight in spike and days to tillering had the most effective role on yield. Results of factor analysis indicated importance of biological yield, harvest index and yield components in salin stress condition. Path analysis based on entered variables in final step of stepwise regression indicated that number spike per m2 and seed weight in spike in stress environment had high direct effect on yield. It can be concluded that, lines number 26, 48, 51, 54, 55, 59, 60, 66, 67, 69, 73, 75, 87, 89 and 94 that had higher yield than the high yielding check cultivars Arg, Bam and Kavir, were identified as the promising lines and were selected for next molecular, physiological and adaptability studies.