Variation in the plant height of spring common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) hybrid forms under different ecological and geographical conditions

Abstract

The results of a two-year study (2013–2014) of the variation in plant height of spring common wheat hybrid forms (F4 and F5) in three geographical localities in Russia (Tyumen oblast) and Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg and Lower Saxony) considerably differing in soil and climatic conditions are described. These three localities are characterized according to temperature and water availability during the growth seasons of the spring wheat. The differences between the geographical localities in water supply and aridity during two growth seasons (2013–2014) were assessed using Selyaninov’s hydrothermal coefficient (HTC). The plant height of different hybrids differently responded to changing environmental factors. A moderate degree of height variation (CV = 11–25%) was prevalent among the tested hybrids. The hybrid forms displaying the largest range in plant height within a locality were identified. The morphotypes of the hybrids were represented by undersized and medium-sized plants. The hybrids formed higher plants under conditions of sufficient moisture. The contributions of the major factors (site, year, and genotype) to the formation of plant height were assessed by three-way ANOVA. The results of this analysis demonstrate that environmental conditions of particular localities are responsible for the largest part of the explained variation in the studied variable (plant height). Two hybrid forms (♀ Hybrid × ♂Lutescens 70 and ♀ Cara × ♂Skent 3) with the least expressed variation in plant height and the highest lodging resistance were identified. Plant height is regarded as one of the indicators characterizing the environmental plasticity of genotypes under different soil and climatic conditions.