Defining the Role of Epicuticular Leaf Wax in Heat Tolerance in Wheat in a TAM 111 X TAM 112 Ril Population.

High temperature and drought are major constraints to wheat production. Collectively or individually heat and drought are the primary constraints to yield in wheat on a global basis. However, there are certain genotypes that tolerate high heat and drought through various adaptations such as high leaf wax content, leaf rolling and efficient root structure. We hypothesize that high leaf wax content is directly correlated to heat and drought tolerance in wheat in terms of yield and quality stability. For this study, a RIL population derived from TAM 111 and TAM 112 were grown in controlled greenhouse and multiple field locations. In the greenhouse at 10 days after pollination (DAP) plants were subjected to a three-day 38°C/18°C day/night heat stress treatment. Both in greenhouse and field flag leaf and glumes were sampled at 10 DAP for wax analysis. The samples collected for wax content, canopy temperature (CT), yield and other quality components are being analyzed for co-association between quantitative trait loci (QTL) regulating these phenotypic traits. This will help to determine the influence of leaf wax on the maintenance of yield performance during heat and drought stress.