Drought is one of the consequences of climate change, negatively affecting crop yields. Current weather abnormalities showed that increasing plant resistance to temperature stresses needs special attention in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The article provides information on weather and climatic condition variations in winter-growing regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In 2021–2023, during the growing season, the increased air temperature in Kazakhstan (1.73 °C–2.60 °C) and Uzbekistan (1.97 °C–2.57 °C) materialized with decreased precipitation compared with the past average annual data. Recently, similar rainfall in these regions has been uneven during the winter crop-growing season. The current winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and their study methods had reports of chief indicators of drought tolerance. The influence of flag leaf parameters (length, width, and area), leaf rolling during drought, slowing down of “Stay-green” plant aging, plant pubescence, and waxy patina on drought tolerance of winter wheat came about based on past research. Winter wheat cultivar evaluations for productivity indicators occurred under natural drought conditions. Characteristics of modern drought-tolerant winter wheat cultivars planted in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were informative.
Winter wheat (T. aestivum L.), climate change, drought, drought-tolerant indicators, breeding for drought tolerance, productivity
Climate change toward aridity requires a detailed study of drought-tolerant traits in winter wheat (T. aestivum L.) worldwide. In drought conditions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, local varieties identified with high ear productivity and grain yield have been successful.