Comparison of some durum wheat (triticum durum l.) genotypes in terms of resistance to drought stress

This study was conducted to comparatively evaluate the morphological, physiological, and yield-related performances of various durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) genotypes cultivated under different water regimes in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye. The research integrated three experimental approaches—field trials, greenhouse experiments, and root analyses using a total of 45 durum wheat genotypes grown under both irrigated and rainfed (drought-prone) conditions. Field experiments revealed statistically significant differences among genotypes for traits such as heading date, thousand-kernel weight, number of grains per spike, plant height, SPAD values, and grain yield. Genotypes such as Selçuklu-97, Fırat-93, Bağacak, and AYM-3 consistently exhibited superior yield performance under both water regimes, while early-maturing genotypes like Zühre demonstrated notable adaptation to terminal drought conditions. Root trait analyses further highlighted that genotypes such as Burgos, Selçuklu-97, and Maestrale, possessing deeper and more robust root systems, experienced less yield loss under drought stress. Additionally, traits like high root-to-shoot ratio and elevated SPAD values proved effective in identifying genotypes with greater physiological resilience to water deficit. The findings suggest that genotypes combining strong root architecture, phenological adaptability, and stable yield potential can serve as valuable parental material in breeding programs targeting drought tolerance. Notably, mild levels of water stress were found to enhance physiological activity during key growth stages, positively influencing grain yield. Therefore, future breeding efforts should not rely solely on classical yield components but also incorporate root morphology and physiological parameters into an integrated selection framework, especially in the face of increasing climate variability.