The article gives a comprehensive assessment of 5 varieties (Lada, Agata, RIMA, Arcea, Maestro) and 5 breeding lines of spring soft wheat according to the yield and adaptive properties. The studies were carried out in 2018-2022 in the conditions of the Ryazan region on dark gray forest soil. The potential for productivity and adaptability was determined according to the method of L. A. Zhivotkov et al., the degree of yield variation (СV, %) – according to B. A. Dospekhov,  the yield range (d, %) – according to V. A. Zykin, index of stability (L') – according to A. A. Gryaznov, the indicator of the level of stability of the yield of a variety (PUSS) – according to E. D. Nettevich et al., ecological plasticity (bi), stability of yield (σ2d) and index of environment conditions (Ij) – according to S. A. Eberhart and W. A. Russell. It has been established that on average for 2018-2022 the highest yield potential was noted in the varieties Arcea (5.19 t/ha), Maestro (5.69 t/ha) and line  268 (5.33 t/ha). It was revealed that the productivity of the Maestro variety and line 268 was higher than the average varietal both under favorable conditions of 2022 (Ij = +6.2) – by 16.3 and 9.7 %, and under unfavorable dry conditions of 2019  (Ij = -5.4) – by 22.0 and 24.5 %, respectively. The productivity of the Arcea variety under conditions of severe drought was 99.1 % of the average varietal, which indicates good adaptive properties. As the result of the assessment by the linear regression coefficient (bi), it has been established that the varieties RIMA, Agata, Lada, Arcea actively respond to the improvement of external environmental factors (bi = 1.23; 1.35; 1.43; 1.52, respectively). According to the results of a comprehensive assessment of adaptive properties, the Maestro variety and line 898 were distinguished, which were characterized by a relatively stable yield (СV – 9.3 and 5.2%; σ2d  – 7.71 and 9.09; L' – 6.12 and 9.44; PUSS – 209.6 and 176.5 %, respectively) and high adaptability to environmental conditions (CA – 1.17 and 1.01, respectively).

The aim of our research is to create and introduce new drought-resistant varieties of winter soft wheat adapted to the conditions of the Central region of Russia. New varieties should have a high and stable yield, resistance to lodging, adverse environmental factors and the defeat of the most harmful diseases, but at the same time, having high indicators of grain quality. This article presents the morphological and economic and biological characteristics of a new medium-ripe variety of winter soft wheat Felicia, introduced in 2019. in the State register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation in the Central region. The variety of winter soft wheat Felicia was created in ISA-branch of FGBNU FNAC VIM by intraspecific complex-step hybridization followed by individual selection from the hybrid population F [(Don region x Inna) x Memory Fedina) x Memory Fedina]. Authors of the variety are Anokhin N.P., Barkovskaya T.A., Gladysheva O.V., Ushakova E.Yu. Variety is erythrospermum. The ear is white, spinous, pyramidal, mean density. The grain is red, semi-elongated form with a pronounced pappus. Beak of opening chords have a medium length, slightly curved, shoulder rounded, medium width. The height of the plants is 75-85 cm. High adaptability to local climatic conditions of the new variety is manifested primarily in yield stable by years, the maximum reached 9.79 t / ha in 2017. On average, over the last 5 years of study (2015-2019) it amounted to 7.5 t / ha exceeding the standard Angelina variety by 0.62 t / ha. The new variety has a high productivity (more than 9.5 t / ha). It was found that the high yield of Felicia is associated with increased water content of the ear and the weight of 1000 grains. In terms of grain quality, the new variety is not inferior to the standard grade Аngelina, which is included in the list of valuable wheat of Russia. The new variety of winter soft wheat “Felicia” meets the requirements of modern production. It is drought resistant, has good baking capabilities and is adapted to the Russia Central region’s conditions. The Felicia variety is recommended to be cultivated on dark gray forest, soddy podzolic soils, chernozems in accordance with the generally accepted varietal technology of winter crops. Sowing dates are optimal for the agricultural zone. The seeding rate is 5.0 million pcs / ha.

There has been presented the information on the purposeful process of developing the spring bread wheat variety ‘Arseya’, which was included in the state list of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation in the Central Region in 2020. The mean productivity of the variety plots of the Central region was 3.0 t/ha, the maximum productivity of 4.8 t/ha was obtained in the Bryansk region in 2018. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the valuable traits of the new spring bread wheat variety ‘Arseya’ with the zoned varieties of the Central region in a comparative analysis. As a result, there was found that the mean productivity of the variety ‘Arseya’ was 4.94 t/ha in the competitive variety testing for 2015–2020. Through the years of study, the lowest and highest levels of productivity exceeded the standard values of the variety ‘Agata’ on 0.30–0.49 t/ha. The comparative analysis of the varieties zoned in the Central Region showed that the new variety ‘Arseya’ exceeded them in productivity on 0.50–0.88 t/ha, or 10.1–17.8% on average. There was established that the highest level of productivity was formed under the optimal weather conditions of 2017. The largest productivity values were given by the varieties ‘Dariya’ and ‘Arseya’ with 6.28 t/ha and 5.72 t/ha, respectively. The lowest productivity range was identified in the varieties ‘Agata’ and ‘Arseya’ with 11.6% and 11.9%, respectively. The variety ‘Arseya’ under the generally accepted cultivation technology, showed the productivity potential by 86%. When calculating the stability factor (S.F.) indicators and the productivity range (d), there has been identified that the varieties ‘Agata’ and ‘Arseya’ have the lowest values of 1.33 and 1.35, i.e. 24.7% and 25.9% respectively. The spring bread wheat variety ‘Arseya’ is fully adapted to local agroclimatic conditions.

This article presents the results of a study of hybrid spring wheat populations. Revealed different patterns of inheritance of important traits in F1 hybrids, which is caused by hereditary features of the original forms and circumstances. Analysis of hybrid populations showed that the dominant role in the formation of 1000 grains mass belongs to productivity and weight of grain with an ear, correlation coefficient r = 0.90 and amounted to r = 0.73, respectively. Found that the hybrid population in F4-5, created on the basis of grades Moscow 35, Esther, Agatha, Rome, Saratovskaya 29 (Russia), Ostinka (Ukraine) are a valuable material for selection of highly productive genotypes for future use breeding process.

Relevance. Over the past 15 years, a large variety of crops, including barley, has been observed in the fields of the region, which, unfortunately, is not in favor of domestic varieties. The most important task for the next decade is not only import substitution with competitive varieties of domestic breeding, namely, providing the agro-industrial complex with seeds of varieties of domestic breeding.Methods. The object of research was commercial varieties of spring barley Vladimir, Yaromir, Reliable, Noble and Raphael, of various uses.Results. Quantitative characteristics of the selected elite ears revealed that the largest ear length (8.2–8.4 cm), the number of grains in the ear (24.4–25.2 pcs.) and the weight of grain from the ear (1.26–1.28 g) were characterized by Yaromir and Noble varieties. Rigid rejection of elite plants and rejection of families in PIP-1 (up to 72.1 % on average) make it possible to obtain high-quality conditioned barley seeds for laying PIP-2. The grain obtained from the nurseries of primary seed production differed in size. The weight of 1000 grains varied by year in PIP-1 from 50.4 g (Yaromir variety, 2021) to 58.9 g (Noble variety, 2020), in PIP-2 from 47.2 g (Raphael variety, 2021) to 53.3 g (Noble variety, 2022). The highest yields were characterized by varieties of modern breeding — Noble (from 4.04 to 5.50 t/ha) and Raphael (from 4.29 to 7.65 t/ha). Over the years of research, all varieties had a high yield of conditioned seeds (VKS, %) — more than 75.0%. The maximum indicators were Yaromir and Noble varieties, having VKS of 77.9 and 78.6%, respectively. The original seeds obtained had high purity (99.76–99.96%) and germination (98.0%).