Some Agronomic Properties of Winter Wheat Genotypes Grown at Different Locations in Croatia

Abstract

A collection of fourteen winter wheat accessions was evaluated to describe agro-morphological traits over a two-year study at four locations. Changes in grain yield, test weight, and plant height were related to differences in growing seasons, locations, genotypes, and their interactions. Thus, some genotypes are suitable for one location but not for another. However, a PCA showed that genotypes 2, 26, 28, 32, and 31 were the most stable across environments. In the 2022/2023 season, a negative relationship was observed between septoria leaf blotch, septoria nodorum blotch, yellow rust, fusarium head blight, and grain yield. Grain yield decreased by 84.8, 72.3, 37.4, and 4.3% in Kutjevo, Osijek, Tovarnik, and Zagreb, respectively, compared to the 2021/2022 season. Additionally, in the 2022/2023 season, barley yellow dwarf virus weakened wheat plants, especially at the locations Kutjevo, Tovarnik, and Osijek, where a relationship was observed with septoria leaf blotch and powdery mildew. At the Zagreb location, wheat genotypes were planted at the latest sowing date, probably escaping the virus pressure after plants easily tolerated diseases, resulting in a significantly higher mean grain yield.

Morphological Characterization of 1322 Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties from EU Referent Collection

“…The time of ear emergence of wheat varieties was a variable where mean value showed late maturity to very late maturity in wheat varieties. It is known that plant height and heading date (in the current research evaluated as time of emergence) are adaptive traits, which means that the optimum plant height and heading date depend on the target environment [2]. The most frequent were varieties with short to medium plant length.…”

“…According to Hyles et al [8], wheat adaptation could be achieved through variation in phenology (seasonal timing of the lifecycle) and related traits (e.g., those affecting plant architecture). Nevertheless, the phenological expression of wheat plants is impacted by the environment and genetics, thus allowing wheat genotypes to achieve optimum productivity in Agriculture 2024, 14, 551 2 of 13 the environment in which they were primarily created [2]. In the same research it was also reported that environmental effects (E) explained approximately 72.2% of the total variation, whereas genotype (G) and GE interactions explained 6.9 and 18.3%, respectively.…”

“…Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world's most important food crops, and a primary food source for an estimated 35% of the world's population [1]. Wheat alone supplies a fifth of global food calories and protein [2]. Although global wheat production is currently over 700 million tons [3], the demand for wheat production is projected to increase by 60% by 2050.…”