Differential sensitivities of transpiration to evaporative demand and soil water deficit among wheat elite cultivars indicate different strategies for drought tolerance

► Variability in transpiration response to evaporative demand among wheat cultivars. ► Variability in transpiration response to soil water deficit among the same genotypes. ► Correlations between responses indicating different strategies for drought tolerance. ► Some drought tolerant lines express conservative water use in response to both stresses. ► Other tolerant lines express decreased sensitivity of transpiration of both stresses.