Drought adversely affects crop growth, development and yield. This study assessed genetic variation in a panel of wheat lines to water deficit and identified the QTLs governing this relationship via GWAS. A panel of 290 lines of the Wheat Association Mapping Initiative (WAMI) population were evaluated under well-irrigated and drought-stressed conditions. Stress tolerance indices were calculated to assess the response of wheat genotypes to water deficit. GWAS was performed using 15,737 SNP markers and six phenotypic traits. Evaluated traits were significantly affected across environments indicating variations in response to drought and ambient conditions. Heritability degrees were moderate to high and ranged from 0.39 to 0.93%. GWAS identified 205 significant marker-trait associations for the six studied phenotypic traits under well-irrigated and drought stress conditions. A positive correlation was found between drought stress index (STI) and plant grain yield (PGY) under both well-irrigated and stressed conditions. A linear relationship between STI and PGY under stressed conditions (PGYs) was observed. STI is the best index for prediction of high yielding genotypes. The WAMI population is a valuable source for improving drought tolerance in wheat. The study revealed significant marker–trait associations with a high degree of genetic diversity underlying different mechanisms for adaptation to drought-prone environments.

干旱对作物的生长，发育和单产产生不利影响。这项研究评估了一组小麦系因缺水的遗传变异，并确定了通过GWAS控制这种关系的QTL。在良好灌溉和干旱胁迫条件下，评估了290个品系的小麦协会定位计划（WAMI）种群。计算胁迫耐受指数以评估小麦基因型对缺水的响应。GWAS使用15,737个SNP标记和六个表型性状进行。评估的性状在整个环境中均受到显着影响，表明对干旱和环境条件的响应有所不同。遗传度从中等到高，范围从0.39％到0.93％。GWAS为在良好灌溉和干旱胁迫条件下研究的六个表型性状确定了205个重要的标记性状关联。在良好灌溉和胁迫条件下，干旱胁迫指数（STI）与植物籽粒产量（PGY）之间呈正相关。观察到在压力条件下（PGYs）STI和PGY之间存在线性关系。STI是预测高产基因型的最佳指标。WAMI种群是提高小麦抗旱性的宝贵来源。这项研究揭示了显着的标记-性状关联以及高度遗传多样性，这些遗传多样性是适应干旱多发环境的不同机制的基础。在良好灌溉和胁迫条件下，干旱胁迫指数（STI）与植物籽粒产量（PGY）之间呈正相关。观察到在压力条件下（PGYs）STI和PGY之间存在线性关系。STI是预测高产基因型的最佳指标。WAMI种群是提高小麦抗旱性的宝贵来源。这项研究揭示了显着的标记-性状关联以及高度遗传多样性，这些遗传多样性是适应干旱多发环境的不同机制的基础。在良好灌溉和胁迫条件下，干旱胁迫指数（STI）与植物籽粒产量（PGY）之间呈正相关。观察到在压力条件下（PGYs）STI和PGY之间存在线性关系。STI是预测高产基因型的最佳指标。WAMI种群是提高小麦抗旱性的宝贵来源。这项研究揭示了显着的标记-性状关联以及高度遗传多样性，这些遗传多样性是适应干旱多发环境的不同机制的基础。