References

Allen RG, Pereira LS, Raes D, Smith M (1998) ‘Crop evapotranspiration: guidelines for computing crop water requirements.’ Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56. (FAO: Rome)

Atlin GN, Frey KJ (1990) Selecting oat for yield in low productivity environments. Crop Science 30, 556–561.
| CrossRef |

Azizi Chakherchaman SH, Mostafaei H, Imanparast L, Eivazian MR (2009) Evaluation of drought tolerance in lentil advanced genotypes in Ardabil region. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment 7, 283–288.

Bayat F, Mirlohi A, Khodambashi M (2009) Effects of endophytic fungi on some drought tolerance mechanisms of tall fescue in a hydroponics culture. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology: a Comprehensive Russian Journal on Modern Phytophysiology 56, 510–516.
| CrossRef | CAS |

Betrán FJ, Beck D, Banziger M, Edmeades GO (2003) Genetic analysis of inbred and hybrid grain yield under stress and non-stress environments in tropical maize. Crop Science 43, 807–817.
| CrossRef |

Blum A (2011) ‘Plant breeding for water limited environments.’ (Springer: New York)

Byrne PF, Bolanos J, Edmeades GO, Eaton DL (1995) Gains from selection under drought versus multilocation testing in related tropical maize populations. Crop Science 35, 63–69.
| CrossRef |

Clarke JM, De Pauw RM, Townley-Smith TM (1992) Evaluation of methods for quantification of drought tolerance in wheat. Crop Science 32, 723–728.
| CrossRef |

Farooq M, Wahid A, Kobayashi N, Fujita D, Basra SMA (2009) Plant drought stress: effects, mechanisms and management. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 29, 185–212.
| CrossRef |

Farshadfar E, Sutka J (2002) Multivariate analysis of drought tolerance in wheat substitution lines. Cereal Research Communications 31, 33–39.

Fernandez GCJ (1991) Analysis of cultivar × environment interaction by stability estimates. Horticultural Science 26, 947–950.

Fernandez GCJ (1992) Effective selection criteria for assessing plant stress tolerance. In ‘Proceedings of International Symposium on Adaptation of Food Crops to Temperature and Water Stress’. Shanhua, Taiwan. (Ed. CC Kuo) pp. 257–270.

Fischer RA, Mourer R (1978) Drought resistance in spring wheat cultivar. I: grain yield responses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 897–912.
| CrossRef |

Gavuzzi P, Rizza F, Palumbo M, Campaline RG, Ricciardi GL, Borghi B (1997) Evaluation of field and laboratory predictors of drought and heat tolerance in winter cereals. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 77, 523–531.
| CrossRef |

Gazanchian A, Khoshkholghsima NA, Malboobi MA, Majidi-Heravan E (2006) Relationships between emergence and soil water content for perennial cool-season grasses native to Iran. Crop Science 46, 544–553.
| CrossRef |

Gibson DJ, Newman JA (2001) Festuca arundinacea Schreber (F. Elatior L. ssp. arundinacea (Schreber) Hackel). Journal of Ecology 89, 304–324.
| CrossRef |

Golabadi M, Arzani A, Mirmohammadi Maibody SAM (2006) Assessment of drought tolerance in segregating populations in durum wheat. African Journal of Agricultural Research 1, 162–171.

Houshmand S, Arzani A, Maibody SAM, Feizi M (2005) Evaluation of salt-tolerant genotypes of durum wheat derived from in vitro and field experiments. Field Crops Research 91, 345–354.
| CrossRef |

Jafaria A, Paknejada F, Jami AL-Ahmadi M (2009) Evaluation of selection indices for drought tolerance of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids. Plant Production 3, 1735–8043.

Johnson RA, Wichern DW (2007) ‘Applied multivariate statistical analysis.’ (Prentice Hall International: Englewood Cliffs, NJ)

Kirigwi FM, Van Ginkel M, Trethowan R, Seaes RG, Rajaram S, Paulsen GM (2004) Evaluation of selection strategies for wheat adaptation across water regimes. Euphytica 135, 361–371.
| CrossRef |

Lakzian A (1989) Soil genesis and classification of lavark soil. MSc Thesis, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran.

Majidi MM, Mirlohi A (2010) Genetic similarities among Iranian populations of Festuca, Lolium, Bromus and Agropyron using amplified fragments length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology 8, 16–23.
| CAS |

Majidi MM, Mirlohi A, Amini F (2009) Genetic variation, heritability and correlations of agro-morphological traits in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb). Euphytica 167, 323–331.
| CrossRef |

Majidi MM, Tavakoli V, Mirlohi A, Sabzalian MR (2011) Wild safflower species (Carthamus oxyacanthus Bieb.): a possible source of drought tolerance for arid environments. Australian Journal of Crop Sciences 5, 1055–1063.

Mirlohi A, Sabzalian MR, Khayyam Nekouei M (2004) Endophytic fungi, characteristics and their potential for genetic manipulation. Iranian Journal of Biotechnology 2, 75–83.
| CAS |

Mitra J (2001) Genetics and genetic improvement of drought resistance in crop plants. Current Science 80, 758–762.
| CAS |

Norton MR, Volaire F, Lelièvre F (2006) Summer dormancy in Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; the influence of season of sowing and a simulated mid-summer storm on two contrasting cultivars. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 1267–1277.
| CrossRef |

Pecetti L, Annicchiarico P, Abdelguerfi A, Kallida R, Mefti M, Porqueddu C, Simoes NM, Volaire F, Lelievre F (2011) Response of Mediterranean tall fescue cultivars to contrasting agricultural environments and implications for selection. Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 197, 12–20.
| CrossRef |

Ramirez-Vallejo P, Kelly JD (1998) Traits related to drought resistance in common bean. Euphytica 99, 127–136.
| CrossRef |

Richards RA (1996) Defining selection criteria to improve yield under drought. Plant Growth & Regulation 20, 157–166.
| CrossRef | CAS |

Rosielle AA, Hamblin J (1981) Theoretical aspects of selection for yield in stress and non-stress environments. Crop Science 21, 943–946.
| CrossRef |

Saha DC, Jackson MA, Johnson-Cicalese JM (1988) A rapid staining method for detection of endophyte fungi in turf and forage grass. Phytopathology 78, 237–293.
| CrossRef | CAS |

SAS Institute (2001) ‘User’s guide. Release 8.2.’ pp. 225–293. (SAS Institute: Cary, NC)

Sheffer KM, Dunn JH, Minner DD (1987) Summer drought response and rooting depth of three cool-season turf grasses. Horticultural Science 22, 296–297.

Van Ginkel M, Calhoun DS, Gebeyehu G, Miranda A, Tian-you C, Pargas Lara R, Trethowan RM, Sayre K, Crossa L, Rajaram S (1998) Plant traits related to yield of wheat in early, late, or continuous drought conditions. Euphytica 100, 109–121.
| CrossRef |

Walker WR (1989) ‘Guidelines for designing and evaluating surface irrigation system.’ FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 45. (FAO: Rome)