Research was conducted in 1985 using reciprocal crosses from three commercial cultivars and 58 selections from converted T-25 drought tolerant materials in order to determine if a cytoplasmic effect was involved in making these crosses. In order to measure the water use of each combination, as well as the parents, an infrared thermometer was used to take canopy temperature readings throughout the flowering stage of the plant's life. The data was analyzed and the plots were divided into a relatively hot group, indicating better water use efficiency, or a relatively cool group, indicating poor water use efficiency. Canopy temperatures were then compared to production data and parents for continuation of the study chosen.

Two preliminary conclusions have been reached. First, the cytoplasm does not seem to be involved in the transference of the non-wilting characteristic associated with drought tolerance. Secondly, the infrared thermometer may prove to be a valuable tool in the effective screening of large populations for drought tolerance. Further research will be conducted under well watered conditions in addition to under severe stress.