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Genetic variation in kernel traits under lead and tin stresses in spring wheat diverse collection

Research Authors
Amira M.I. Mourad; Abu El-Eyuoon Abu Zeid Amin; Mona F.A. Dawood
Research Abstract

Pollution with heavy metals is a common problem worldwide that affects the growth of important crops and human health due to the consumption of contaminated crops. In the recent study, a set of 103 diverse spring wheat genotypes were evaluated for their tolerance to two important metals (lead and tin). The effect of these metals on kernel traits was measured to select tolerant and high-yielding genotypes. A great reduction in kernel length, kernel diameter, kernel width, and thousand kernel weight were found due to the effect of both metals. However, a highly significant correlation between the studied kernel traits was found suggesting their efficiency to indirectly select high yielding genotypes under heavy metals stress. In addition, the effect of the studied heavy metals on the physiological process was investigated and different responses to each metal were found suggesting that there are two different tolerant systems that the plant used to resist lead and tin. The selection of superior genotypes was done based on eight indices calculated for each studied kernel trait. Superior genotypes are those that were found to be tolerant based on all kernel traits. Based on this, one genotype, Gimmiza_11, was found to be highly tolerant to Sn and could be used as a parent in breeding for Sn tolerance. However, one genotype, BeniSweif_7, was found to be moderately tolerant to Pb based on only three kernel traits. Hence, searching for other sources of Pb tolerance in spring wheat is urgently needed. No genotype was found to be tolerant to both metals.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Environmental and Experimental Botany
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
192
Research Website
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Environmental and Experimental Botany journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/envexpbot https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2021.104646
Research Year
2021