This study aimed to evaluate the carbohydrate dynamics at the tillering nodes of four winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Antonina, Yaksart, Moskvich, and Ilgor) under irrigated and rainfed conditions in the semi-arid Nurobod District, Uzbekistan. Soluble sugar quantification used the HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) during the wintering period (December-March). The two-way analysis of variance revealed the cultivars (Factor A) were the dominant driver of total variance in sugar variation (74.5%–76.8%) in January, while the growing conditions (Factor B) approximately contributed 10% (P ≤ 0.001). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.84) between the soil moisture and total sugar content disclosed the robust osmotic adaptation under rainfed stress conditions. Among the wheat genotypes, locally adapted cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor exhibited the highest sugar retention and stability. The results suggested that while environmental stress factors trigger the sugar synthesis, the magnitude of the cryoprotective response was primarily the genotype genetic trait, proving cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor as highly resilient for dryland farming.
Winter wheat (T. aestivum L.), climate-resilient cultivars, crown tissue, genotype-environment interaction, HPLC, rainfed stress conditions, soluble carbohydrates
The results revealed the genotype genetic potential was the primary driver of sugar accumulation in winter wheat (T. aestivum L.). The significant negative correlation between soil moisture and sugar content confirmed the robust osmotic adaptation mechanism under rainfed stress. Cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor were distinctly with the highest carbohydrate stability and retention, proving them the most climate-resilient cultivars.