Genotypic Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Contrasting Irrigation Regimes: Implications for Water Use Efficiency and Productivity

Abstract

This review synthesizes recent research on the effects of contrasting irrigation regimes on the genotypic performance of wheat, with particular emphasis on productivity and water use efficiency (WUE). Adequate irrigation during critical growth stages such as crown root initiation, flowering, and grain filling enhances plant growth, photosynthetic activity, biomass accumulation, and yield components. In contrast, water deficit conditions reduce stomatal conductance, canopy development, and grain formation, ultimately limiting yield potential. However, optimized irrigation strategies, including deficit irrigation and improved irrigation scheduling, can enhance WUE while maintaining acceptable yield levels. The review also highlights the significant role of genotypic variability in determining wheat performance under varying irrigation conditions. Wheat genotypes exhibit considerable variation in morphological and physiological traits such as root architecture, relative water content, chlorophyll stability, and stay-green characteristics, which contribute to improved drought tolerance and water productivity. Furthermore, genotype × environment interactions play a critical role in determining genotype adaptability across different irrigation regimes. Stability analysis methods such as regression models, AMMI analysis, and GGE biplot techniques are widely used to identify stable and high-performing genotypes under diverse environmental conditions. In addition, agronomic strategies including integrated irrigation and nutrient management, conservation agriculture practices, soil moisture conservation techniques, and crop residue management can significantly enhance wheat productivity under limited irrigation conditions. Integrating improved irrigation practices with the development of drought-tolerant wheat varieties will be essential for sustaining crop productivity under water-limited environments. Overall, adopting efficient irrigation management and selecting genotypes with higher water use efficiency are key strategies for achieving sustainable wheat production in the face of increasing water scarcity and climate change.