Study of Genetic Diversity of Native Wheat in Rainfed Condition of Golestan Province

Finding the appropriate parents for breeding programs is the main aim of selecting in drought tolerant crops and landraces under stresses conditions. In present survey, eigthey wheat landraces and varieties from different areas of Iran were evaluated in Gorgan agricultural research station (as a normal or potential yield) and Mazrae-Nemoneh (as under stress condition) during two years (1999-2000). In first year, grain yield, biomass and harvest index of genotypes in two conditions were compared to check varieties and genotypes were omitted because of their low production. In second year, the rest of genotypes examined in an augmented experimental design with measuring the other traits and Siren and Hirmand varieties produced significantly more grain yield than check varieties. Drought tolerance index and grain yield under stress conditions significantly and positively correlated by potential grain yield, kernel weight and peduncle length (P<0.01) and negatively correlated with plant height, leaf burning, days to heading and days to maturity in non-stressed plants and have no significant correlation with awn length and leaf rolling. Genotypes classification by cluster analysis showed two groups: the first group was consisted of Siren and Hirmand varieties and two genebanks numbers (1 and 24) from Golestan province, which have lower plant height (potential), non-fertile tillers, higher peduncle length, kernel weight (potential), grain yield (in both conditions) and smaller drought stress index than total average. The second group is generally consisted of some landraces from Golestan and Mazandaran provinces. Recommended be Helmand and Syrn cultivars, directly comparing the test performance of rainfed areas are studied, Also we can use drought resistance genotypes in plant breeding program.