In-vitro Screening of EMS and Sodium Azide Induced Mutant Population at Seedling Stage for Drought Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Drought caused by climate change result in water shortages, decreased global wheat production and unevenly distributed heavy rains. About 50% of the global wheat production is affected by water deficit conditions. The effects of different concentrations of EMS and SA on HD-3226 and HI-1620 wheat genotype for drought tolerance capability were investigated at seedling stage under water and osmotic stress conditions. In the present study, 15% concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000, to mimic drought stress) was used for in-vitro screening of EMS and SA induced mutant lines of both wheat genotypes. Current study revealed that SA decreased germination of seeds, seedling length, seed vigour index and survival rate percentage while it increased morphological mutation frequency percentage as comparison to EMS treatment in both wheat genotypes under water and PEG stress. Moreover, osmotic stress significantly reduced seed germination, shoot length, root length, seed vigour index, survival rate percentage compared to control-wild type.