Evaluation of Elymus semicostatus germplasm from lahaul valley as potential donor for wheat improvement
Loading...
![Thumbnail Image](assets/images/Item.jpg)
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of Elymus semicostatus germplasm from Lahaul
valley as potential donor for wheat improvement’’ was carried out to evaluate the in depth
botanical characterization, their physiological responses in different water environments and
hybridization attempts to mobilize the useful traits into wheat. The plant material was
collected from Lahaul valley (Lahaul-Spiti, HP) and its adjoining regions. The field
experiments were conducted at the research farm of Wheat section, Department of Plant Breeding
and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The E. semicostatus showed
morphological resemblance with three other members of the genus Elymus viz: E.
longiaristatus, E. repens and E. dahuricus. Forty distinguishing characters were marked for
each species. The E. semicostatus showed morphological adaptation for drought tolerance such
as dense pubescence, awn length and colour, leaf waxiness and pigmentation on other plant parts.
The germplasm set was narrowed down to 34 accessions on the basis of their intra-specific
variation during field evaluation. Selected 34 accessions set was evaluated for drought tolerance
traits under field conditions. Vernalization treatment for 4-6 weeks at 4-8˚C and 8hr photoperiod
was provided to germinated seedlings in December and January for about 6-7 hours to
synchronize flowering with hexaploid wheats. The drought conditions were created by
withholding irrigation (rainfed), regular recommended irrigation and restricted irrigation (1-2
times after transplantation). The morpho-physiological traits such as plant height, flowering days,
spike length, leaf area, tiller numbers, chlorophyll contents at different stages and relative water
content were observed at anthesis. For morpho-physiological parameters, the NBPAU28 showed
maximum plant height (133cm), spike length (25.67 cm), tiller number (33.17) and leaf area
(30.32cm). The accessions NBPAU7, NBPAU13, NBPAU14 and NBPAU28 were best for plant
height, spike length, leaf area, whereas NBPAU1, NBPAU6, NBPAU15 and NBPAU27
performed well under drought conditions. The chlorophyll content was significantly increased
during anthesis in all accessions and then declined, but it maintains low chlorophyll content upto
harvesting stage. In an attempt to cross the species with hexaploid wheat, embryo rescue was
attempted. A total of 991 caryopses were obtained from the crosses of three consecutive seasons
from 2017 to 2018. Only 20 hybrid plants could be established on account of the desiccating
conditions at PAU, which probably contributed to low survival rate. The surviving hybrid plants
never reached booting stage at PAU, Ludhiana. The E. semicostatus can be a potential donor for
the drought tolerance traits and more detailed studies on overcoming pre and post fertilization
barriers need to be done for introgressing useful traits into wheat cultivars for wheat improvement.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Antul Kumar (2020). Evaluation of Elymus semicostatus germplasm from lahaul valley as potential donor for wheat improvement (Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.