In vitro response of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties under drought stress

Eleven durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes were screened to select for drought-tolerance under in vitro immature embryos culture. Drought stress is induced by using five PEG concentrations (0, 200, 270, 295 and 310 g/l of PEG 6000). Results showed, for all studied traits, significant differences among PEG treatments and genotypes. In fact, increasing PEG concentration decreases relative growth rate, callus water content, relative water content, in vitro tolerance and relative tolerance. Biplot analysis indicated that the first two PCs (principal components 1 and 2) explain 70.5 % and showed that Karim, Mahmoudi and Om Rabiaa are respectively the most drought tolerant varieties tested, however, Ben Bechir, Maghrbi and Nasr were the most sensitive.