Drought stress is a serious problem in crop production and high level of drought stress can significantly inhibit seed germination and seedling growth, due to combined effect of high drought stress and PEG solution. Thirty different wheat lines for germination under drought stress using PEG in different percentage (5% and 10%) and compared with normal condition (0% PEG). Findings revealed significant differences among the wheat lines and under PEG concentrations, while MGR was found non-significant for PEG. Germination percentage was highest of all genotypes across PEG levels except B₁SN37, B₃SN56, B₁SN48, B₃SN31, and B₃SN44 while line B₁SN 44, B₁SN52, B₁SN45, B₂SN29, B₁SN61, B₃SN83, B₂SN45 were poor in germination index. The mean germination rate was similar for all the lines across stress. In case of germination speed, B₃SN56, B₁SN44, B₃SN44 and B₁SN45 had the least GS and B₃SN56, B₂SN48 and B₁SN99 with least GR values. Coefficient of variance of germination was the lowest for B₁SN44 and B₂SN26 and B₁SN52. The line B₂SN26 and B₁SN52 and B₁SN45 had the least germination energy. The lines B2SN48, B₁SN44, B₂SN26, B₂SN29 and B₁SN61 had the least values for germination rate index. Decrease in germination traits were lesser under 5% PEG concentration as compared with 10% PEG. It was concluded that the advance lines showed a wide range of phenotypic variation at germination stage in response to drought-induced stress using PEG and drought stress had resulted in reduction in germination traits of all studied wheat lines, however line B₂SN25, B₁SN81 were found superior among the tested line under moderate stress while line B₃SN27 and B₂SN23 were performed better in germination and early seedling growth under severe drought stress.

Keywords: Wheat, Drought, PEG, Germination and Development