Detection of genotypic variation in response to water stress at seedling stage in escalating selection intensity for rapid evaluation of drought tolerance in wheat breeding

A screening of diverse germplasm in field is time consuming and in laboratory is expensive. an easy and economical technique was employed to access the behavior of seventy five diverse wheat genotypes. the experiment was conducted on the basis of germination percentage,emergence rate,emergence rate index,survival after desiccation and seedling recovery with the aim to evaluate best adopted parents. these traits were pooled to differentiate water stress tolerant and susceptible genotypes,by increasing selection intensity and rapid evaluation for drought tolerance which may be used in succeeding research programs.