Induced mutagenesis for improving water stress tolerance in durum wheat (Triticumturgidum L. subsp. durum)

Abstract

Over the Water deficit is considered to be one of the most important limiting factors for crop productivity worldwide. Thus, it is important to use water resources more efficiently. One of the ways to conserve water and respond to the climate change is by using appropriate crop species and cultivars, notably which have low requirements for water.Chemical mutagens have contributed immensely to the development of a wide range of genetic variability and the improvement of several crop plants, including durum wheat. This study has the aim of understanding the effect of water stress on some morpho-physiological parameters and identifying tolerant lines to water stress from an EMS-mutated population in durum wheat. The results, under moderate (T1) and severe (T2) conditions of water stress,show the positive effect of mutagenesis on the population resulting in tolerantmutated linesto water deficit. Compared to the non-mutated, 32.15% of lines have a higher specific leaf weight; 57.14% of lines have a better ability to maintain a high water content and 75% of all lines demonstrate a very high intensity of chlorophyll fluorescence .In sum, this study has revealed the improvement of water stress tolerance in some induced durum wheat mutants.