Identification of Heat Stress Traits in Wheat (triticum Aestivum L.) in the Way of Tagging Major Gene(s) for Heat Stress Tolerant

A field experiment was conducted with four wheat varieties Raj4134, HD2733, NW 1014 and K9006 for characterization of heat stress tolerance traits under heat stress condition. Heat stress was induced by delayed sowing of 35 days from normal date of sowing so that grain filling stage of wheat could experience severe heat stress. Data related to plant height, chlorophyll content, starch content and protein profile were done at dough stage of grain filling in both control and heat stress condition. High yielding wheat varieties HD2733 and K9006 severely affected by drastic reduction in plant height, chlorophyll content, starch content and yield. Raj4134 and NW1014 remained long stay green at late reproductive stage and also showed peculiar novel protein band that not appeared under normal condition. Appearance new protein bands might be heat shock protein that protect heat sensitive enzymes like granule bound starch synthase, soluble starch synthase etc. under heat stress that play key role in grain starch synthesis consequently less percent reduction in yield. Therefore, appearance of novel protein bands during heat stress and less percent reduction in growth, chlorophyll content, starch content and ultimately yield might be taken as screening criteria in wheat breeding programme for developing heat stress tolerance varieties in wheat. Key worlds : Heat stress, SPAD, protein profiling, starch, yield and wheat. Plant Archives Vol. 14 No. 1, 2014 pp. 465-468 ISSN 0972-5210