Canopy temperature and chlorophyll content as plant traits indicators for durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. ) superior lines selection under semi-arid conditions

Abstract

Abstract. The present study was carried out at the experimental site of the Agricultural Research Station of the Technical Institute for Field Crops (ITGC) in Setif province, where some plant traits indicators such as grain yield, above-ground biomass, canopy temperature, and chlorophyll content were evaluated in a later generation (F8) of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). The results showed that some lines from the later generation (F8) outperformed the crossed parents in all measured traits, which reflects the breadth of the genetic base that members of the eighth generation integrate and illustrates the possibility of isolating some superior lines with high productivity and resistance to abiotic stresses. Among all experimented lines, both lines L10 and L46 outperformed in grain yield (GY), canopy temperature (CT) and above-ground biomass (BM). The study of phenotypic correlations revealed the presence of a significantly negative relationship between canopy temperature and grain yield (r = - 0.293), as well as for canopy temperature and above-ground biomass (r = - 0.376) confirming that lines grown at low temperature are more productive in grain yield and biomass. These correlations are very important in plant breeding programs for improving wheat production as they indicate that new superior lines can be discriminated and isolated more efficiently from the crossed parents in terms of resistance to abiotic stresses well present in the semi-arid regions.