Selection for Chlorophyll Content and SCoT-Based Molecular Diversity in Wheat Genotypes under Drought Conditions | ||
| Assiut Journal of Agricultural Sciences | ||
| Volume 56, Issue 4, October 2025, Pages 144-161 PDF (1.38 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ajas.2025.419354.1532 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Aya Abdelreda* 1; Mahmoud A. El-rawy1; Muhammad A. Youssef1; Bahaa E. S. Abd El-Fatah1, 2 | ||
| 1Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt. | ||
| 2Faculty of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, 11829, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Drought stress is a major constraint to wheat productivity, necessitating efficient selection strategies for stress tolerance. In this study, three F₂ wheat populations were evaluated for chlorophyll content, measured as Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) readings, under drought conditions across two cycles of divergent selection. Simultaneously, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant were recorded to assess the association between physiological and yield-related traits. Recurrent selection targeting higher SPAD values resulted in significant improvements in chlorophyll content, with population 3 showing the greatest progress. Enhanced SPAD values were positively correlated with yield attributes, indicating the potential of chlorophyll content as a reliable selection criterion under drought stress. Heritability estimates for the studied traits varied from low to high, suggesting differential genetic control among populations and traits. To complement phenotypic evaluation, molecular diversity was assessed using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. The obtained results from SCoT marker revealed a high level of polymorphism (91.6%) with an average of polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.36, reflecting substantial genetic variability among the studied genotypes. Overall, the integration of SPAD-based recurrent selection with molecular marker analysis provides a robust and efficient strategy for enhancing drought tolerance and stabilizing yield performance in bread wheat. These findings highlight the value of combining physiological and molecular tools in breeding programs aimed at developing resilient wheat cultivars. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Drought stress; Heritability; SCoT markers; Selection; SPAD; Triticum | ||
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