Heat Shock Effects on Physiological Parameters Durum Wheat Seedlings and Relationships with Stress Tolerance Indices

Drought and temperature extremes are major factors limiting wheat productivity particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The selection of a high and stable yield are an important objective in these environments. This is particularly true in the Mediterranean basin where harsh and fluctuating climatic conditions lead to the occurrence of qualitative genotype × environment interactions. Breeding relies, usually, on selection for yield and few alternatives to direct selection for yield have been adopted.