Research Article

Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches

Volume: 31 Number: 1 April 17, 2026

Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches

Abstract

Under changing climate conditions, evaluating both genetic and environmental factors is essential for crop improvement. Limitations of conventional breeding have increased the use of molecular markers to obtain precise genotypic information and improve selection efficiency. This study evaluated drought tolerance in 15 durum wheat genotypes across two cropping seasons under rainfed and irrigated conditions. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used to assess agro-physiological traits, quality parameters, drought tolerance indices, and molecular diversity using iPBS and SCoT markers. Significant genotypic variation was observed for grain yield, 1000-kernel weight, hectoliter weight, protein and starch content, and color traits under both conditions. Ovidio had the highest grain yield and starch content, while Seckin 21 showed the highest 1000-kernel weight. Drought tolerance indices identified NZFM-41 and Maestrale as the most drought-resilient, and Ovidio as highly adaptable with stable yield. 12 indices (SSI, TOL, MP, GMP, STI, YI, YSI, HM, SDI, DI, RDI, SSPI) were calculated from yields under stress (Ys) and non-stress (Yp) conditions. Molecular analysis with 14 iPBS and 10 SCoT primers showed greater polymorphism and allelic diversity for iPBS (PIC = 0.287, Nei’s distance = 0.5348) than SCoT (PIC = 0.191, Nei’s distance = 0.2700). Clustering and population structure revealed two subpopulations, with iPBS providing higher resolution (FST = 0.3443). MP, GMP, STI, YI, HM, and DI were the most reliable indices for identifying drought-tolerant genotypes. In conclusion, iPBS markers exhibited higher discriminatory power than SCoT for assessing genetic diversity, while specific indices (MP, GMP, and STI) proved most effective for identifying drought-tolerant durum wheat genotypes, with NZFM-41 and Maestrale emerging as promising genetic resources for breeding programs aimed at enhancing climate resilience.

Keywords

Project Number

This study was partially supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Mardin Artuklu University under project number MAÜ.BAP.22.KMY.030.

References

  1. Abdelghany, M., Makhmer, K., Zayed, E., Salama, Y., & Amer, K. (2023). Genetic variability, principal components, cluster analysis of twenty-eight Egyptian wheat genotypes. Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 5(1): 107-118. https://doi.org/10.21608/sjas.2023.179573.1272
  2. Abouseada, H.H., Mohamed, A.S.H., Teleb, S.S., Badr, A., Tantawy, M.E., Ibrahim, S.D., & Ibrahim, M. (2023). Genetic diversity analysis in wheat cultivars using SCoT, ISSR markers, chloroplast DNA barcoding, grain SEM. BMC Plant Biology, 23(1): 193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-023-04196-w
  3. Albayrak, O., Kizilgeci, F., Yildirim, M., Akinci, C. (2020). Investigation of grain yield, quality traits of spring bread wheat genotypes grown in different environments. Anadolu Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 35.
  4. Almarri, N.B., Alghamdi, S.S., ElShal, M.H., & Afzal, M. (2023). Estimating genetic diversity among durum wheat (Triticum durum desf.) landraces using morphological, SRAP markers. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 22(5): 273-282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2023.01.002
  5. Altaf, M.T., Nadeem, M.A., Ali, A., Liaqat, W., Bedir, M., Baran, N., & Baloch, F.S. (2025). Applicability of Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers for the assessment of genetic diversity in bread wheat germplasm. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 72(1): 1205-1218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2023.01.002
  6. Apana, N., Amom, T., Tikendra, L., Potshangbam, A. M., Dey, A., & Nongdam, P. (2021). Genetic diversity, population structure of Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon using CBDP, iPBS, SCoT markers. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal, Aromatic Plants, 25: 100349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2021.100349
  7. Ayranci, R., Sade, B., & Soylu, S. (2014). The Respons of Bread Wheat Genotypes in Different Drought Types I. Grain Yield, Drouhgt Tolerance and Grain Yield Stability. Turkish Journal of Field Crops, 19(2): 183-188. https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.17813
  8. Ballesta, P., Mora, F., & Del Pozo, A. (2019). Association mapping of drought tolerance indices in wheat: QTL-rich regions on chromosome 4A. Scientia Agricola, 77(2): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992X-2018-0153

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Plant Biotechnology in Agriculture, Agronomy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 17, 2026

Submission Date

August 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 7, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 31 Number: 1

APA
Kızılgeçi, F., Türkoğlu, A., Haliloğlu, K., Eliş, S., Polat, B., Akçelik, G., Yıldırım, M., Demirel, F., & Bocianowski, J. (2026). Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1765420
AMA
1.Kızılgeçi F, Türkoğlu A, Haliloğlu K, et al. Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches. TJFC. 2026;31(1). doi:10.17557/tjfc.1765420
Chicago
Kızılgeçi, Ferhat, Aras Türkoğlu, Kamil Haliloğlu, et al. 2026. “Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 31 (1). https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1765420.
EndNote
Kızılgeçi F, Türkoğlu A, Haliloğlu K, Eliş S, Polat B, Akçelik G, Yıldırım M, Demirel F, Bocianowski J (April 1, 2026) Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 31 1
IEEE
[1]F. Kızılgeçi et al., “Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches”, TJFC, vol. 31, no. 1, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.17557/tjfc.1765420.
ISNAD
Kızılgeçi, Ferhat - Türkoğlu, Aras - Haliloğlu, Kamil - Eliş, Seval - Polat, Büşra - Akçelik, Gaye - Yıldırım, Mehmet - Demirel, Fatih - Bocianowski, Jan. “Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 31/1 (April 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1765420.
JAMA
1.Kızılgeçi F, Türkoğlu A, Haliloğlu K, Eliş S, Polat B, Akçelik G, Yıldırım M, Demirel F, Bocianowski J. Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches. TJFC. 2026;31. doi:10.17557/tjfc.1765420.
MLA
Kızılgeçi, Ferhat, et al. “Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, vol. 31, no. 1, Apr. 2026, doi:10.17557/tjfc.1765420.
Vancouver
1.Ferhat Kızılgeçi, Aras Türkoğlu, Kamil Haliloğlu, Seval Eliş, Büşra Polat, Gaye Akçelik, Mehmet Yıldırım, Fatih Demirel, Jan Bocianowski. Revealing Genetic Diversity and Drought Tolerance in Durum Wheat through Agro-Physiological and Molecular Approaches. TJFC. 2026 Apr. 1;31(1). doi:10.17557/tjfc.1765420

Turkish Journal of Field Crops is published by the Society of Field Crops Science and issued twice a year.
Owner : Prof. Dr. Behçet KIR
Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops
Editor in Chief : Prof. Dr. Emre ILKER
Address : 848 sok. 2. Beyler İşhanı No:72, Kat:3 D.313 35000 Konak-Izmir, TURKEY
Email :  turkishjournaloffieldcrops@gmail.com contact@field-crops.org