Study of the breeding forms of emmer wheat (<i>Triticum dicoccum</i> (Schrank) Schuebl.)

Abstract

The results of the study of economically useful features of the plants of the semi-naked emmer wheat breeding lines (Triticum dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl.) with purple pericarp coloring of grain are presented. Seven breeding lines F9, created by two-step hybridization of the purple-grain durum wheat with naked and awnless emmer, and five breeding samples of seminaked emmer wheat were studied. In the field experiments, plants were selected for selection valuable traits. Phenological observations, structural analysis, and evaluation of the quantitative traits of the plants of emmer wheat breeding forms with purple grain coloration were carried out from 2020 to 2022. Two-way analysis of variance showed significant factors - the breeding lines and the years of study. In the course of the study, it was found that for further breeding work, emmer wheat lines carrying a combination of economically important traits are of value. Short-stalked purple-grain form 27-1 is resistant to lodging, the yield of the grain - 80 %, the weight of 1000 grains – 34–37 g. Line 27–12 has grains with purple color, high grain-unit value of about 800 g/l and good grain productivity for emmer wheat reaching 400 g/m2. Purple emmer line 31–16 has a good bushiness (3–4 pieces), short stalk (71–74 cm), high lodging resistance (4–5 points) and grain threshing capacity (80 %). From 2021 to 2022, the same studies were conducted with emmer wheat from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). The selection line of emmer wheat 41/14 was distinguished by the high indicator of threshed grains (85 %). The main disadvantages of the established forms of emmer wheat with purple-colored grains still remain relatively low grain yield, insufficiently strong ear shank, not complete grinding of the grain from the flowering glumes and husks. However, further breeding work can improve these traits, as well as increase the grain yield, the weight of 1000 grains and a more complete release of the grain from the chaff during threshing.