DYNAMIC AND TRANSPIRATORY EFFICIENCY OF THREE GENOTYPES OF WHEAT UNDER WATER STRESS

Abstract

Transpiration, transpiratory efficiency and their relation with other morphological and physiological characters were studied under irrigated and drought conditions, in three wheat varieties: Temporalera M87, 7 Cerros T66 and Yuyuza 3, this one of venture type. Drought was induced at the begining of three stages: floral primordia, flowering and grain filling. The drought reduced the stomatal
conductance, the foliar area, the total dry matter and the transpiration, and increased the number of dry leaves and the transpiratory efficiency; this one, was atributed in part to the reduction of the transpiration, which was associated to reductions of the dry matter and of the developed foliar area, and to low stomatal conductances, specially that of Yuyuza 3. Temporalera and 7 Cerros saved more water when water deficiency was induced at flowering and grain filling while Yuyuza 3 did it with water shortage at floral primordia and flowering stages. The water saving reflected transpiratory efficiency in such stages. The improved variety Temporalera M87 showed the better transpiratory efficiency.