The sources of valuable traits for targeted use in the breeding of new winter wheat varieties with improved quality traits are presented. The results of the evaluation of the parent material on the expression of economically valuable features in the collection samples of soft winter wheat are presented. The paper presents data on 31 varieties of different ecological and geographical origin. Field experiments were conducted in 2018-2020 in the breeding rotation under the conditions of the southern zone of the Rostov region. Quality indicators of the varieties: thousand grain weight, protein content, quantity and quality of gluten in the grain, grain unit, total vitreousness, baking properties were determined by standard methods and GOSTs. As a result of the clustering of varieties, it is shown that the breeding program to create adaptive varieties with high grain quality should include as basic parent material the varieties which are included in the 5th and 6th clusters L-19578 (Russia), Etana (Germany), Warwick (Canada), Akter (Germany), MV-15-09 (Hungary), Simonida (Serbia), GK Hollo (Hungary), Webster (Canada), Wisdom (Canada), No. 42 CIMMYT (USA), and KS 96 WGRC 37 (USA). These varieties showed good results in the southern zone of the Rostov region. The other varieties of the collection nursery are recommended to be included in the breeding work in accordance with the principle of complementarity, as mutually complementary varieties in the expression of a particular trait or property.