Effect of end-of-season drought stress on yield, yield components and some morphological and phenological characteristics of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

To evaluate the effect of drought stress on grain yield, yield component, morphologic and phonological traits on 30 genotypes of wheat, an experiment in the form randomized complete block with three replication at 2 levels of irrigation (normal and stress), was carried out. Results showed that the studied genotypes were significantly different in terms of grain yield, 100-seed weight, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, day to maturity, and seed size under stress and non-stress conditions. According to the results, it can be seen that Kavir, Pishtaz and Helmand cultivars showed the lowest yield reduction and Navid, Karim and Alvand cultivars showed the highest grain yield decrease among all cultivars. The analysis of tolerance index correlation showed index of tolerance stress, using mean and using numeral mean are the best indexes for identifying genotype with high yield in this test According to the results of phenotypic correlations, stepwise regression, path analysis and principal component analysis in both normal and stress conditions, it can be concluded that, expected that the traits of number of spike in plant, total spikes weight, biological yield, main spike of weight, were most important and effective traits affecting yield and considering that among the genotypes, The highest diversity was observed for these traits, therefore selecting and breeding for these traits can ideally be improved the yield Genotype grouping in both conditions was conducted based on studied traits with UPGMA method, in both conditions investigated genotypes were grouped in five clusters.