Effects of drought and high temperature stress on synthetic hexaploid wheat

Drought and high temperature often occurs simultaneously, causing significant yield losses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The objectives of this study were to: (i) quantify independent and combined effects of drought and high temperature stress on synthetic hexaploid wheat genotypes at anthesis and at 21 days after anthesis; and (ii) determine whether responses to stress varied among genotypes. Four synthetic hexaploid and two spring wheat genotypes were grown from emergence to anthesis (Experiment I) and emergence to 21 days after anthesis (Experiment II), with full irrigation and 21/15°C day/night temperature. Thereafter, four treatments were imposed for 16 days as (a) optimum condition: irrigation+21/15°C, (b) drought stress: withhold irrigation+21/15°C, (c) high temperature stress: irrigation+36/30°C and (d) combined stress: withhold irrigation+36/30°C. Results indicated a decrease in leaf chlorophyll, individual grain weight and grain yield in an increasing magnitude of drought