Background and Aims: Climate change in the Mediterranean-climate region of Australia is reducing growing season rainfall and delaying first autumn rain or the onset of ‘autumn break’. We tested the hypothesis that selection for yield and agronomic adaptation has favored traits for early season drought a in Australian wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).MethodsTen wheat varieties released between 1958 and 2012 were grown in 1.0 m deep columns in a glasshouse. After sowing in dry soil, the equivalent of 25 mm rainfall was supplied, with no subsequent watering provided for 32 days to induce early season drought. We measured soil and plant water status, gas exchange, shoot and root traits at the end of drought (32 days after sowing) and at anthesis, and grain yield at maturity.ResultsGrain yield increased with year of release at 0.43% yr−1 under well-watered conditions and at 0.35% yr−1 under drought. The improved yield under drought was associated with a shorter time to flowering, and a shift from isohydric behavior in older varieties (i.e., reduced stomatal conductance in response to drought) to anisohydric behavior in newer varieties that reduced leaf area and maintained higher stomatal conductance and higher photosynthesis per unit leaf area.ConclusionsDirect selection for yield and agronomic adaptation between 1958 and 2012 has improved adaptation to early-season drought. Our collection of varieties is an interesting model to probe for variation in drought tolerance.