Abstract
In order to evaluate the amount of heritability for desirable agronomic characteristics and the genetic progress associated with grain yield of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), a split plot experiment was carried out with four replications during three cropping seasons (2009-2012). Three sowing dates (as environmental factor) and six durum wheat varieties (as genotypic factor) were considered as main and sub factors respectively. Analysis of variance showed interaction effects between genotypes and environments in days to ripening, plant height, spike length, number of grains per spike, number of spikes per unit area, grain mass and grain yield. The grain yield showed the highest positive correlation with number of grains per spike also grain mass (91 % and 85 %, respectively). A relatively high heritability of these traits (82.1 % and 82.2 %, respectively) suggests that their genetic improvement is possible. The maximum genetic gain (19.6 %) was observed for grain mass, indicating this trait should be a very important indicator for durum wheat breeders, although the climatic effects should not be ignored.
Highlights
Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is cultivated on 21 million hectares, about 10 % of all cultivated areas in the world
The purpose of this study was to identify the traits which can be used as selection markers and can help to predict the grain yield of durum wheat
A significant interaction effect was found between sowing date and amount of traits (P ≤ 1 %)
Summary
Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) is cultivated on 21 million hectares, about 10 % of all cultivated areas in the world. Durum wheat is an important and popular crop in the Mediterranean region and is used for food products as couscous, bulgur, and pasta (Gisslen, 2001). Durum wheat genotypes had shown better adaptation to varying environments than common wheat (T. aestivum L.) (Khazaei et al, 2013). Selection of the stable durum wheat genotypes for achieving both high grain yield and good quality is very important. This article is part of the Ph.D. thesis entitled « Influence of some agro technical measures on the productivity of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties (under the conditions of Mazandaran province of Iran) », issued by Hassan Nikkhahkouchaksaraei, supervisor Assist.
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