Development of somaclonal variants of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for yield traits and disease resistance suitable for heat stressed and zero-till conditions

In a substantial rice–wheat cropping system area of South Asia, wheat sowing often gets too delayed and exposed to terminal heat stress. Therefore, farmers prefer varieties that are able to perform well under a short growing period. Tissue culturally regenerated plants of wheat variety cv. HUW 234, the most widely cultivated variety of North Eastern Plain Zone (NEPZ) of India were screened using immature embryo as explant. Days to heading and maturity, yield and other yield components and resistance to leaf rust and spot blotch were evaluated. A few somaclones in R3 and R4 generations displayed significant earliness for days to heading and maturity, improved yield traits and resistance to leaf rust and spot blotch diseases. The superior performance of two of the variants was confirmed in the R5 generation in 3 years of testing under two dates of conventional and zero-till sowing. Stability analysis also suggested superiority of the two somaclones across 12 environments. This appeared to confirm the possibility of obtaining useful somaclonal variants of wheat for very late sown as well as zero-till managed agriculture. The superior performing somaclones can be used as parents in the ongoing breeding programmes targeting late sown wheat in South Asia exposed to terminal heat stress.