Screening of wheat genotypes for boron efficiency in Bangladesh

A number of Bangladeshi wheat genotypes (varieties and advanced lines) have been tested for boron efficiency through sand culture experiments over two years (2007-08 & 2008-09) against two Thai check varieties ‘Fang 60’ (boron efficient) and ‘SW41’ (boron inefficient). Performances of the genotypes were evaluated with respect to grain set, boron uptake and grain yield. The genotypes differed considerably in their response to added boron. Some commonly grown varieties such as ‘Sourav’, ‘Prodip’ and ‘Sufi’ showed little response to boron application, while ‘Shatabdi’ had a high response to added boron, thus the former varieties can be regarded as boron efficient and the later as boron inefficient. Some advanced lines, ‘BAW 1051’, ‘BAW 1086’ and ‘KRL-1-4’, also demonstrated their performances as boron efficient genotypes. Wheat genotype response to added boron showed considerable variation between two years, so it is unclear that under what conditions the boron translocation from the vegetative part to the reproductive part is affected and at what stage of plant development does this take place. Our field data indicate that high temperature and water stress at specific stages of plant development might have an interacting effect on boron translocation to the reproductive part