MORPHO-CHARACTERIZATION OF TRANSGENIC WHEAT LINES UNDER INDUCED DROUGHT

The study was carried out on the morpho-characterization of  21 transgenic  wheat  lines (Tg.line-1 to  22)and two commercial checks  (Kiran-95 and T.D-1)  under  induced  drought during Rabi 2012-13.  These genotypes were compared for their  yield and yield components. The experimental design was RCBD with factorial arrangements  which were replicated three times. Two treatments were used, in  T1, only soaking dose was applied and no irrigation after sowing; while in T2, the crop was irrigated once at seedling stage. The results revealed that days to 75% heading, days to grain filling, grains spike-1, main spike yield, 1000 grains weight and grain yield plot-1parameters  were significantly (P 0.05) differences were observed for plant height, days to 75% maturity, spike length, spikelets spike-1, biological  yield plot-1and the harvest index. Almost all the transgenic wheat lines were having with more height than T.D-1 except Tg.line-1, 8, 15 and 17; while days to 75% heading of transgenic lines was in the range of 62.833 to 67.83 (av.66.128), days to 75% ma turity 110.67 to 114.83 (av.112.45); days to grain filling 43.50 to 51.167 (av.47.044), spike length 8.708 to 24.841 cm (av. 12.54 cm), spikelets spike-115.387 to 23.08 (av. 18.102), grains spike-114.94 to 135.22 (av. 46.957), main spike yield 2.664 to 21.860 g (av.6.388 g), 1000 grains weight 9.343 to 11.922 g (av.10.802 g), biological yield plot-11.50 to 4.2925 kg (av. 1.8715 kg), grain yield plot-1500 to 758.33 g (av. 609.68 g) and harvest index 27.97 to 53.05% (av. 39.37%). The yield analysis indicated  that highest grain yield (758.33 g) plot-1was observed in Tg.line-20, followed by Tg.line-10 (650 g), Tg.line-5, 15, 16, 17 (641.67 g), and these lines were either superior or at par with Kiran-95 (641.67 g). However, all the transgenic lines were superior in grain yield than T.D-1 (500 g). Hence, transgenic lines Tg.line-20, Tg.line-10, Tg.line-5, Tg.line-15, Tg.line-16 and Tg.line-17 were the most promising lines and their potential could be exploited for commercial cultivation in the province. The effect of water stress on the grain yield was statistically significant (P<0.05) and  crop given one irrigation at seedling stage  resulted in significantly higher grain yield plot-1(681.68 g) as compared to those  plots  which received only soaking dose and no irrigation after sowing with average grain yield plot-1of 537.68 g.