Mario Gutiérrez-Rodríguez
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Matthew Paul Reynolds
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José Alberto Escalante-Estrada
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María Teresa Rodríguez-González
Spectral reflectance (SR) indices [NDVI (R900 – R680/R900 + R680); GNDVI (R780 – R550/R780 + R550); and water index, WI (R900/R970)]; and 6 chlorophyll indices (R740/R720, NDI = R750 – R705/R750 + R705, R780 – R710/R780 – R680, R850 – R710/R850 – R680, mND = R750 – R705/R750 + R705 – 2R445, and mSR = R750 – R445/R705 – R445) were measured with a FieldSpec spectroradiometer (Analytical Spectral Devices, Boulder, CO) on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes adapted to irrigated and drought conditions to establish their relationship with yield in field-grown plots. Bread wheat genotypes from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) were used for this study in 3 experiments: 8 genotypes in a trial representing historical progress in yield potential, and 3 pairs of near-isolines for Lr19, both of which were grown under well-watered conditions; and the third experiment included 20 drought tolerant advanced genotypes grown under moisture stress. These were grown during the 2000 and 2001 spring cycles in a temperate, high radiation environment in Obregón, NW México. The 9 SR indices were determined during grain filling along with canopy temperature depression (CTD), flag leaf photosynthetic rate, and chlorophyll estimates using a SPAD meter. The relationship of SR indices with grain yield and biomass fitted best with a linear model. NDVI and GNDVI showed positive relationships with grain yield and biomass under well-irrigated conditions (r = 0.35–0.92), whereas NDVI showed a stronger association with yield under drought conditions (r = 0.54). The 6 chlorophyll indices showed significant association with yield and biomass of wheat genotypes grown under well-irrigated conditions (r = 0.39–0.90). The association between chlorophyll indices and chlorophyll estimates was correlated (r = 0.38–0.92), as was the case for photosynthetic rate (r = 0.36–0.75). WI showed a significant relationship with grain yield in wheat genotypes grown under drought stress conditions (r = 0.60) as well as with grain yield and biomass under well-irrigated conditions (r = 0.52–0.91). The relationship between WI and CTD was significant (P ≤ 0.05) in both environments (r = 0.44–0.84). In conclusion, the SR showed potential for identifying higher-yielding genotypes in a breeding program under dry or irrigated conditions, as well as for estimating some physiological parameters.
Selection for high spike fertility index increases genetic progress in grain yield and stability in bread wheat
