Drought resistance, quality characteristics and water-yield relationships of some wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines and varieties

The aim of this study was to determine the drought tolerance of four different genotypes, including two wheat varieties (Ceyhan 99 and Sagittario) and two wheat lines (Zdeb101 and Zdeb102), and create irrigation schedules. This study was performed with treatments applied at three irrigation levels (S100: treatment where the entire water need of the plant was met, S50: 50% of the water provided in the S100 treatment, S0: Rainfed), with four genotypes and four replications in a split-plot design in Kahramanmaras East Mediterranean Transitional Zone Agricultural Research Institute in 2019 and 2020. The Ceyhan 99 and Sagittario varieties, which are widely cultivated in the region and the Zeb101 and Zdeb102 lines that are candidates for varieties were used in the study. In the study, 217.1 and 213.77 mm of water was given to S100, 108.54 and 106.88 mm of water was given to S50, and no irrigation was provided to S0 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The effects of different irrigation levels on yield, water use efficiency (WUE), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), protein content and wet gluten content were investigated. At the end of this study, seasonal evapotranspiration (ET), irrigation water and yield decreased from S100 to S0. WUE, IWUE and yield response factor (Ky) values showed different trends in both years. There was no significant difference in yield between the varieties. However, in the stress susceptibility index (SSI) analyses of the genotypes, it was found that the most drought-tolerant genotypes were Zdeb102 (0.50) and Ceyhan 99 (0.54). The highest protein content and wet gluten content were found as 11.38% and 22.24% in the Sagittario variety, respectively. It is recommended that Zdeb102 and Ceyhan 99 be cultivated in regions such as Kahramanmaras which have semi-arid climate characteristics in the Mediterranean.