Assessment of Genetic Variation and Zinc Deficient Tolerance in Spring Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Genotypes in Calcareous Soil with Zinc Deficiency

Low zinc (Zn) availability and its absorption limit wheat production and quality of yield in calcareous soils. In order to identify Zn deficient stress tolerance in wheat, fifteen spring genotypes (Diyarbakir-81; Gediz-75; Svevo; Zenit; Amanos-97; Fuatbey-2000; Balcali-2000; Ceylan-95; Firat-93; Aydin-93; Ozbek; Artuklu; Akcakale-2000; Aday-19; and Ege-88) were evaluated under two conditions (normal and Zn deficient stress) in 2014-2015 growing season. This research was carried out in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Results of variance analysis showed that zinc-deficient stress had significant effects on plant height (PLH), spike length (SL), peduncle length (PedL), grains number per spike (GNPS), biomass yield (BY), and grain yield (GY). There were significant differences among genotypes for all studied traits, except spike length, BY, and GY. The interaction effects of genotypes and Zn deficient stress conditions were non-significant for all studied traits. The results showed that zinc-deficient stress caused 7.3, 9.5, 8.0, 20.8, 18.6, and 22.1% reduction in PLH, SL, PedL, GNPS, BY and GY, respectively. But had no significant effect on 1000-grain weight and harvest index. Results showed that ‘Gediz-75’ genotype with 0.62 g/plant and 14 grains had the highest GY and GNPS under two different conditions. But, ‘Aday-19’ genotype with 0.36 g/plant and 8.3 grains had the lowest GY and GNPS under two different conditions. The ‘Gediz-75’ genotype showed the highest STI (1.186), GMP (0.610), MP (0.621), and HARM (0.599) Zn stress indices. However, the ‘Aday-19’ genotype showed the lowest STI (0.399), GMP (0.354), MP (0.360), and HARM (0.347) Zn stress indices. With consideration, the correlation between indices and grain yield under zinc-deficient stress and non-stress, these indices (except the TOL, SSI, RDI, YSI, DI, ATI, and SSPI) were identified as the best stress indices for isolation and selection of tolerant genotypes.