Contribution of Agro-Physiological and Morpho-Anatomical Traits to Grain Yield of Wheat Genotypes under Post-Anthesis Stress Induced by Defoliation

Post-anthesis drought affects wheat production worldwide, primarily through the limitation of grain filling. The enhanced remobilization stem reserves induced by can provide considerable carbon sources for aim this study, which was part an ongoing wheat-breeding program targeting tolerance, to assess ability 20 contrasting common genotypes (2 cultivars, 8 F6:7 families (FAM), and 10 parent (PAR) used make families) remobilize dry matter under water-stressed conditions simulated via defoliation days after anthesis, estimate contribution weight. In two-year field trials, were scored agro-physiological peduncle morpho-anatomical traits. Stem reserve weight per spike significantly in defoliated plants but did not differ amongst groups genotypes. had higher grain-filling rate 1000-grain without improvement compared with parental groups. total area chlorenchyma, phloem-area-related traits, positively associated defoliation, whilst both treatments, determined height. These results imply that is a trait desirable tolerance be improved during breeding process.