Drought tolerance and yield components of bread spring wheat collection samples in environments of Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate collection samples of bread spring wheat for drought tolerance and productivity and to identify the best ones for involving in scientific programs as source material. Methods. In 2016 and 2017, 26 collection samples of bread spring wheat were investigated at Spring Wheat Breeding Laboratory. Drought tolerance was determined at Biotechnology, Genetics and Physiology Department by percentage of seed germination in sucrose solution at osmotic pressure of 14 and 16 atm. Statistical data were calculated according to B. A. Dospekhov. Results. During the study period, weather conditions differed from the average long-term values for temperature regime, the amount of precipitation and their distribution in individual months which allowed us to evaluate wheat samples for drought resistance and productivity. According to the results of laboratory method of determining drought tolerance, there were identified collection samples of bread spring wheat: DalGAU 1, Lutescens 540, Novosibirskaya 44 (RUS), Dubravka (UKR), Margarita (BLR), etc. exceeding standard variety Elehia myronivska by drought tolerance. These variety samples are recommended as source material in breeding for this character. The samples that were distinguished by yield components: Margarita (BLR), Bozhena, Dubravka (UKR), Sonata, Pamyati Afrodity, Kinelskaya 61 (RUS), etc. are of practical interest for breeding work. They are recommended for crosses as parent components with high productivity potential. Conclusions. Resulted from two-year study there were indentified collection samples of bread spring wheat: Kinelskaya 61, Zhnitsa, DalGAU 1, Sonata (RUS), Margarita (BLR), Bozhena, Dubravka, MIP Svitlana (UKR) that combine grain yield with drought tolerance and are valuable source material when breeding for these characters.