Morpho-physiological Responses of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Seedlings to Drought Stress and Their Correlation with Yield

Addad, Dalila; Hamli, Sofia; Mekersi, Nawal; Kadi, Kenza; Dib, Dounia; Hamdellou, Amel; Khelifi, Amira; Sabrina, Lekmine; Kellil, Hadia; Gueboudji, Zakia; Bouzerzour, Hemenna

doi:10.21608/agro.2025.347984.1593

Morpho-physiological Responses of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Seedlings to Drought Stress and Their Correlation with Yield

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Laboratory of Biotechnology, Water, Environment and Health, Faculty of Natural Science and Life University of Abbes Laghrour, Khenchela, 40000, Algeria

² Laboratory of Natural Resources and Management of Sensitive Environments, University of Larbi Ben M’hidi, Oum El Bouaghi, 04000, Algeria

³ University of abbes laghrour of khenchela BP 1252 Road of OEB 40000 Algeria

⁴ Departement of Biotechnology, Faculty of Nature and Life sciences, University of Ferhat Abbes Setif-1, 19000, Algeria

⁵ Departement of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Natural Science and Life University of Abbes Laghrour, Khenchela, Algeria

⁶ Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences. University of Batna 2 - Mostefa Ben Boulaid, Batna 05000, Algeria

⁷ Valorization of Biological Natural Resources Laboratory, Faculty of Life and Natural Sciences, Setif-1University,19000, Algeria

10.21608/agro.2025.347984.1593

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the response of durum wheat seedlings to water stress and to analyze the relationships between seedling-stage parameters and their behavior under field conditions. Sixteen (16) genotypes of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were subjected to two water regimes: control and stressed. Parameters measured included accumulated biomass, seedling height, specific leaf weight, relative water content, proline content, drying rate of the flag leaf, and cell integrity. Water stress significantly affected all measured parameters, though the degree of impact varied among genotypes. Some genotypes demonstrated lower sensitivity to stress than others. Proline accumulation at the seedling stage showed a correlation with genotype performance under field conditions. Additionally, genotypes with higher specific leaf weight under stress better retained relative water content. The findings suggest that the ability to accumulate proline and sugars contributes to minimizing yield loss under water stress. This highlights potential physiological traits for breeding durum wheat varieties with improved drought tolerance.

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