Adaptive potential of short-stemmed winter bread wheat genotypes in the eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Among the unresolved issues of breeding short-stemmed winter bread wheat genotypes of different ripeness groups, the problem of obtaining high and stable yields without reducing the adaptive potential in the face of limiting environmental factors that periodically occur in different agroecological conditions of cultivation stays relevant. The preliminary identification of suitable sources with a combination of necessary adaptive properties is a crucial step towards the development of highly promising varieties and improvement of the gene pool of plants in Ukraine. The purpose of this study was to find the level of adaptive potential in short-stemmed winter bread wheat genotypes with different vegetation periods, to investigate the plasticity and stability of yields, and to select highly adaptive source material for the conditions of the eastern part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. To fulfil this purpose, the study employed general scientific, field, and dispersion methods of scientific cognition. It was found that in the eastern part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, among short-stemmed winter bread wheat genotypes, the share of those with the highest genetic potential for adaptability combined with high yields (over 16% of the standard) is highest in the group of mid-ripening varieties and amounts to 53.3%. These include mainly Ukrainian genotypes, namely: Blahodarka Odeska, Zoreslava, Rozdynka Odeska, Kruhozir, Shpalivka (UKR); Ilona (SVK), Urbanus (AUT), and Evklid (FRA). Among the early-ripening samples, the share of such genotypes was 33.3%, and in the group of late-ripening varieties – 13.3%. High yield stability (S2dі=0.0) was inherent in 66.7% of the samples of the early-ripening group, 60% of the mid-ripening group, and 26.7% of the late-ripening group. The identified sources are valuable starting material for the development of new and highly promising winter soft wheat varieties adapted to the growing conditions in the eastern part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine