QUALITY TRAITS PERFORMANCE OF BREAD WHEAT GENOTYPES UNDER DROUGHT AND HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS

The current study aimed at assessing grain quality traits under stress environments and to determine the superior wheat varieties with high quality traits and tolerant/sensitive to harsh environment. Sixteen spring wheat genotypes were grown under two temperature levels (cool and warm) and two regimes (rain-fed and irrigated) in the experimental area of Dicle University, Turkey. The analysis of variance showed that genotypes and environment were found to significantly influence all quality parameters as major effects. Rain-fed environment (water stress) caused a significant reduction in grain quality traits except grain protein and dry gluten contents. Warm environment (heat stress) caused significant reductions in grain weight, grain starch content, test weight, gluten index and grain flour content. Hence, delayed sowing associated with high temperature resulted in overall increase in protein content, dry gluten content and Zeleny test. In respect to genotypes, significant differences in quality parameters were found and performance of Inqilab-91, Cham-6, Adana-99 and Meta-2002 were better in respect of most traits under different conditions. It is also opined that Inqilab-91, Cham-6, Adana-99 and Meta-2002 are healthier and better responsive genotypes in respect of grain quality under adverse environment (water stress and heat stress).