Genotypic Responses in Sorghum to Drought Stress. I. Response to Soil Moisture Stress1

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Abstract
This study evaluated the variability within cultivated sorghums (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) in some physiological responses to water stress imposed by limited supply of soil moisture in the field.In 1971 and 1972, 14 and 12 sorghum genotypes were planted, respectively. Water was supplied exclusively by stored soil moisture. During the growing season, periodic determinations were made of leaf water potential, leaf diffusion resistance, and (1972 only) amount of soil moisture.The most drought susceptible genotypes was ‘Shallu’ which under increasing soil moisture stress had relatively low leaf water potential, high leaf diffusion resistance, and the lowest total soil moisture extraction. ‘Combine Kafir‐60’ and ‘RS 610’ hybrid had, under stress, comparatively high leaf water potential and low leaf diffusion resistance, and were therefore regarded as “drought avoidant.” ‘Feterita’ had the greatest amount of soil moisture extraction, which was associated with very low leaf water potential, but relatively low leaf diffusion resistance. ‘Durra’ also had low leaf diffusion resistance in spite of reduced leaf water potential.Genotypes differed significantly by nearly 20% in the amounts of stored soil moisture extracted. Appreciable intergenotypic differences also were revealed in the amount of soil moisture extracted prior to heading as determined by percent of the total at maturity.

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