Production of wheat is constrained by drought in many regions of the world, with about 60% of the acreage suffering from periodic drought. Breeding for tolerance to drought is difficult because of tremendous variability in the intensity and timing of drought events and a diversity of drought tolerance mechanisms used by the plant. Consequently, progress in cultivar yields in drought-prone environments is estimated at only about half of the grains realized under well-watered environments. The advent of DNA markers has facilitated the study of quantitative traits and made possible their dissection into quantitative trait loci (Tanksley, 1993). Individual genetic factors as well as their function can de identified that determine complex phenotypes. Molecular markers can then be designed to aid in selection for superior genotypes. The objective of this research was to identify QTLs associated with increased grain production under drought-stress conditions using a recombinant inbred wheat population.

Text in English

0507|AGRIS 0501|AL-Wheat Program

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection