Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (ISSN: 2315-5094) Vol. 3(4) pp.106-112, April, 2014. Available online http://garj.org/garjas/index.htm Copyright © 2014 Global Advanced Research Journals Full Length Research Papers Study of early growth cycle as drought factor avoidance within a group of native oasis common wheat genotypes Reguieg Liès (1*), Boulgheb Abdelmadjid(2), Aissat Abdelkader(3), Montanari Bernadette (4**) (*),Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, 16200,Hassen Badi ,El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria. (**) University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. Accepted 06 April, 2014 Earliness is an efficient means that enables plants to avoid drought, heat and extreme solar radiation. Shortening growth cycle can, in Mediterranean settings, prevent subsequent stresses. Every temperature rise and water stress, within the period of filling of seeds, will be interpreted as a regression of that period, and will compromise yields through the reduction of carbon assimilation. Effects of water stress, in the areas affected by drought, are among the major factors reducing yields of wheat, especially just before flowering till 15 days after the emergence of anthers. This paper aims at determining the variability among a group of local genotypes pertaining to oases (Algeria) soft wheat in terms of earliness of ear emergence, duration of filling stage, seeds weight, and plants height when they attain ripeness. Gaps of ear emergence between the earliest genotype, the latest one and the two check genotypes equaled: 30, 25 and 14 days, respectively. Keywords: Wheat, oases genotypes, Earliness, Drought, Avoidance, Water Stress INTRODUCTION Wheat has always been cultivated in southern Algeria oases because it is considered a major source of proteins in the diet of southern populations. In these regions, the main crops are date palms which provide the population with carbohydrates. Until recently, food resources were scarce after the autumn harvesting, and this was a subject of great concern for the local population. Hence, earliness of certain varieties of oases wheat, represented one of the favorite agricultural choices in this *Corresponding Author’s Email: reguiegliesh@gmail.com; Tel : +213 21 52 19 87; fax +213 21 82.27.29 region of Algeria. This option allowed not only a considerable harvest in a relatively limited time but also, to introduce a second harvest during the same time span and on the same soil. Earliness is an excellent way to prevent drought (James et al., 2000), heat and extreme solar radiation (Zaharieva et al., 2001). The action of induced stress avoidance can lead, in Mediterranean climate, to a shortening of growth cycle (Baker, 2000). Indeed, every temperature rise causing water stress during seeds filling, will be considered as a regression of the aforementioned period, and will compromise yields through the reducing of carbon assimilation (Johnson et al., 1982; Borner, 2002; Yang et al., 2001). According to Ortiz-Monasterio et al., (1994)