Variability for Drought Stress Effects on Seedling Growth in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes

The study was carried out under different drought/osmotic stresses (0.00 MPa-control, 0.25 MPa, 0.50 MPa, 0.75 MPa and 1.00 MPa applications) created by using PEG 6000 with 43 genotypes under laboratory, with 5 replications according to a split-plot experiment design. The genotypes constituted the main plots, and the drought/osmotic stress applications constituted the sub-plots. In the study, seedling weight, root number, root length, root weight, shoot length, and shoot weight characters were determined. It was determined that drought stress applications caused statistically significant decreases in root and shoot characters. Osmotic stress of, 1.00 MPa and 0.75 MPa caused statistically significant reductions in root and shoot characters. The results indicated that early and mid-early varieties were more tolerant to drought than the late varieties. Although Aglika, Anapo, Enola and Hamza varieties were outstanding for their root properties, while Maden, NKU Ergene and Bezostaja-1 cultivars showed more appropriate shoot characteristics than other cultivars. Enola, Aglika, Bezostaja-1, NKU Ergene, Anapo, Hamza and Maden bread wheat varieties showed better growth characteristics under drought stress conditions in the study.