TOLERANCE OF 65 DURUM WHEAT GENOTYPES TO ZINC DEFICIENCY IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL

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Abstract
Sixty-five durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) genotypes were grown in a zinc (Zn)-deficient calcareous soil in a greenhouse for 32 days with (+Zn=5 mg Zn kg−1 soil) and without (−Zn) Zn supply to study genotypic variation in tolerance to Zn deficiency. Genotypes were ranked for their tolerance to Zn deficiency based on the relative shoot growth (Zn efficiency ratio) defined as the ratio of shoot dry weight under Zn deficiency to the shoot dry weight under adequate Zn supply. Zinc deficiency resulted in marked decreases in shoot dry matter production of the genotypes following 32 days of growth. Shoot dry weight of most genotypes was similar under adequate Zn supply, but differed greatly under Zn deficiency. Consequently, the Zn efficiency ratio showed a large variability and ranged between 20% to 51%. Generally, the genotypes showing lower tolerance to Zn deficiency had lower absolute shoot dry weight under Zn deficiency than the genotypes having greater tolerance to Zn deficiency. Differences in ...