Promising cultivars of winter triticale for grain production in the north-west of the Astrakhan region

Abstract

Triticale, due to its specific properties to form stable grain yields in the zones with risky agriculture, should find wider application in acutely arid conditions. Therefore, the use of highly productive cultivars of winter triticale in semi-desert zone of the north-west of the Astrakhan region is relevant. The aim of the research was a comprehensive assessment of promising winter triticale cultivars of different ecological and geographical origin for adaptability to stressful meteorological factors in semi-desert zone of the northwestern Astrakhan region. To determine the main indicators of adaptability (winter hardiness, plasticity, stability, stress tolerance, genetic flexibility), six promising winter triticale cultivars (Tribun, Interes, PRAG 152, Khleborob, Zhnets and Uragan) were studied. Field agroecological tests were conducted on rainfed fields of Precaspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the RAS with different moisture level in 2018-2020. Nelli cultivar was used as a control. The methods of Selyaninov G.T., Zhivotkov L.A., Eberhart S.A., and Rassell W.A. were used for calculations. During periods of active vegetation of winter triticale, Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient varied from 0.3 to 0.5 (zone of strong and very strong drought); environment index was from -0.67 to 0.66. According to the data obtained, cv. Khleborob showed the greatest adaptive potential and consistently high yield under various meteorological conditions of the season compared to the other tested winter triticale varieties. Moreover, the cultivar had good winter hardiness (5 points) and survival (90.8 %). On the average for the years of research it showed high adaptability coefficient (1.43), and the indicators of its plasticity and genetic flexibility were 0.77 and 1.40, respectively. Therefore, cv. Khleborob can be recommended for use in the acutely arid conditions in semi-desert zone of the northwestern part of the Astrakhan region.