Durum Wheat Production Research Articles

The Impact of Salinity on the Productivity and Quality of Durum and bread Wheat

Salinity poses a significant challenge to the quality and productivity of crops. In the primary wheat cultivation areas worldwide, salinity negatively affects wheat growth, yield, and quality. To address this issue, the development of tolerant wheat varieties through selective breeding techniques is essential. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of salinity on grain yield, protein content, and thousand-kernel weight (TKW) among 55 different varieties and accessions of bread and durum wheat. The findings revealed that the application of salt treatment (100 mM NaCl solution) resulted in reduced growth and yield production in 45 bread and durum wheat varieties. However, 6 durum wheat varieties, 3 durum wheat accessions, and 1 common wheat accession showed insignificant susceptibility to salinity. These included Chryssodur from Greece, Saragolla, Silur, and Dakter from Italy, Sculptur from France, Karim from Tunisia, Algeria 70-2 from Algeria, Ethiopia 201 and Ethiopia 229 from Ethiopia, and the Morocco 85 accession of bread wheat from Morocco. The decline in grain yield could be attributed to salinity, which led to a decrease in photosynthetic capacity, resulting in reduced starch synthesis and accumulation in the grain. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that winter wheat exhibited greater tolerance to salt stress compared to spring wheat, and durum wheat displayed higher tolerance than common wheat. Additionally, salt accumulation was found to increase protein content in five varieties and one accession of durum wheat. This variation may be linked to the relatively stable nitrogen metabolism under salt stress, contributing to higher protein concentrations. TKW also decreased in all 10 varieties and accessions, irrespective of the species.

Participatory Demonstration of Durum Wheat Production Blending Vertisols Management Technologies in Lume District, East Shewa, Ethiopia

Durum wheat production on Vertisols is constrained by waterlogging, where excessive soil moisture limits nutrient availability, resulting in lower yields and higher input demand. Aybar broad bed maker (BBM) was recommended to make broad beds and furrows (BBF) and drain the excess water although it is not widely adopted by farmers. Therefore, this demonstration activity was conducted to create awareness about the importance of BBF along with the recommended fertilizer rates in Lume district during the 2021 and 2022 main cropping seasons. Nine target farmers were purposefully selected based on the ground that their farms are waterlogged Vertisols. Aybar BBM to make the BBF with an 80 cm bed and 20 cm furrow width, while recommended fertilizers at a rate of 92 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> nitrogen (N) and 10 kg ha<sup>-1 </sup>phosphorous (P) were used. The yield data and farmers’ perception were analyzed using t-test, descriptive statistics, and narration, while partial budget analysis was conducted to examine the economic feasibility of the technologies. Results showed that growing durum wheat on BBF by applying the recommended N and P rates resulted in significantly higher grain yield (3474 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) <i>with a 65.4% yield advantage </i>compared to ridge and furrow (RF) (2100 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) with the blanket fertilizer rates. The partial budget analysis revealed that land preparation using Aybar BBM, alongside the recommended fertilizer rates, brought a net benefit of 48,563 ETB ha<sup>-1</sup> over the farmers' practice. Likewise, the marginal rate of return for changing from the local plow to Aybar BBM is 901.7%. The farmers also witnessed that the Aybar BBM even takes less plowing time and energy, and they want to continue to use it. <i>In light of these results, the study concludes that the use of Aybar BBM and recommended N and P rates, as a production package on waterlogged Vertisols, is profitable for farmers and recommends promoting and scaling up these technologies in the study area and other waterlogged Vertisols regions of the country.</i>

Mapping nutrient and soil fertility indexes for Durum Wheat in the La Mina region of Algeria

The growing population coupled with a reduction in available agricultural land per capita necessitates smart management practices to boost production per unit area and enhance overall land productivity, ultimately ensuring food security. Thus, evaluating soil fertility and productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aims to assess the chemical fertility status of the soils within the irrigated perimeter of la Mina, a region in Algeria known for Durum Wheat production. Thirty-two soil samples were collected from the study area and subjected to analysis for total N, available P and K, and organic matter (OM) concentration. All the soils were basic (pH 7.63–8.95), had low concentrations of total N (0.04 and 0.19 %), low concentrations of available P (7.36 – 30 mg kg−1), low concentrations of available K (<0.4 Cmol kg−1) and low concentrations of OM (0.67–2.37 % by weight). Using a Nutrient Index classification, the overall classification of the soils of the irrigated perimeter of la Mina were low for N, P, K and OM. In addition, the Soil Fertility Index revealed three levels of fertility with a dominance of fertility level 5 (low). Application of the FertiliCalc software for the evaluation of nutrient requirements of Durum Wheat showed average requirements of 183 kg ha−1 for N, 65.8 kg ha−1 for P and 579 kg ha−1 for K. In light of these findings, appropriate agricultural practices, including the addition of fertilizers, are required to build and maintain the needs of Durum Wheat in the study area.

Performance evaluation of advanced durum wheat genotypes under irrigated condition at Bhairahawa, Nepal

A field research was carried out at the National Wheat Research Program (NWRP) in Bhairahawa, Nepal in 2022 to investigate elite durum wheat genotypes and key traits contributing to grain yield. The experiment was performed in an alpha lattice design with two replications. Thirty distinct durum wheat genotypes were assessed, focusing on fourteen quantitative traits including days to booting, days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, peduncle length, number of tillers per square meter, number of spikes per square meter, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, thousand kernel weight, grain yield, biomass yield, chlorophyll content. The studied genotypes were grown under irrigated condition. Genotype NL1779 attained the highest grain yield of 3828 kg/ha, followed by NL1769 (3784 kg/ha), NL1772 (3726 kg/ha), NL1789 (3640 kg/ha) and NL1784 (3570 kg/ha). Principal components analysis revealed that eight traits were the major loadings on the first two principal components that describe 53.4% of the total morphological variance at irrigated condition. Cluster analysis grouped the different genotypes into four clusters, with each cluster showing variation in performance for different traits under irrigated conditions. Cluster III is characterized by genotypes exhibiting the highest grain yield, biomass yield, spike length, number of grains per spike, and number of spikes per square meter. Notably, the high-yielding genotypes NL1779, NL1769, NL1772, NL1789, NL1784, and NL1773 identified within this cluster could serve as potential candidates for inclusion in the national breeding program. These superior genotypes could be recommended for irrigated environment after further evaluation. Integrating them into national breeding programs offers an opportunity for genetic improvement, contributing to establishing a robust durum wheat production system in Nepal, meeting the growing demand for durum wheat products while promoting dietary diversity and sustainable agriculture.

The Effect of Foliar Application of ZnO Nanoparticles and ZnSO4 on Improving the Growth and Production of Durum Wheat

The Effect of Foliar Application of ZnO Nanoparticles and ZnSO4 on Improving the Growth and Production of Durum Wheat

Response of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum L.) Genotypes to Blended NPSB Fertilizer Rates and Wheat Rust Diseases in Southern Ethiopia

Lack of improved varieties and soil fertility degradation are among the major factors that limit durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) production in Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to determine the response of durum wheat cultivars (i) to nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, and boron (NPSB) fertilizer blend; (ii) rust infection; and (iii) partial budget analysis using NPSB fertilizer blend. A 2-location experiment was conducted in 2021 in South Ethiopia to evaluate the response of 4 durum wheat genotypes to blended NPSB fertilizer rates in a randomized complete block design in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement. The results showed significant (P&lt;0.05) differences due to genotypes (G), rate of NPSB fertilizer (F), and location (E) for all the parameters. The effects due to the G × F × E interaction were significant (P&lt;0.05) for the number of total tillers, number of productive tillers, and grain yield (GY). A significant (P&lt;0.05) G × E interaction was observed for the majority of parameters except days to 50% heading and plant height. Durum wheat genotype S3-213037 produced the highest grain yield of 3689.3 kg·ha−1 when NPSB fertilizer was applied at a rate of 225 kg·ha−1 at Adekoysha. Moreover, partial budget analysis indicated that genotype S3-213037 accrued a maximum benefit of 112,986.50 birr·ha−1 and the highest marginal rate of return of 1356.4% when NPSB fertilizer was applied at a rate of 225 kg·ha−1. Therefore, this study indicated that the application of an NPSB fertilizer rate of 225 kg·ha−1 could be used in the production of durum wheat in the East African region with similar agroecologies to the study area.

Future of durum wheat research and breeding: Insights from early career researchers.

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) is globally cultivated for pasta, couscous, and bulgur production. With the changing climate and growing world population, the need to significantly increase durum production to meet the anticipated demand is paramount. This review summarizes recent advancements in durum research, encompassing the exploitation of existing and novel genetic diversity, exploration of potential new diversity sources, breeding for climate-resilient varieties, enhancements in production and management practices, and the utilization of modern technologies in breeding and cultivar development. In comparison to bread wheat (T. aestivum), the durum wheat community and production area are considerably smaller, often comprising many small-family farmers, notably in African and Asian countries. Public breeding programs such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) play a pivotal role in providing new and adapted cultivars for these small-scale growers. We spotlight the contributions of these and others in this review. Additionally, we offer our recommendations on key areas for the durum research community to explore in addressing the challenges posed by climate change while striving to enhance durum production and sustainability. As part of the Wheat Initiative, the Expert Working Group on Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding recognizes the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing toward a shared objective. We hope the insights presented in this review stimulate future research and deliberations on the trajectory for durum wheat genomics and breeding.

Sustainable Durum Wheat (Triticum durum) Production for Enhancing Food Security in Palestine

To enhance the productivity of durum wheat, it is crucial to disseminate new and improved wheat varieties along with other enhanced crop management practices. The NARC, NGOs and local universities in collaboration with the ICARDA, has implemented various activities in Palestine from 2014 to 2022 to achieve this goal. The study aims to assess the outcomes of the activities focused on enhancing durum wheat productivity through the dissemination of new varieties and the implementation of improved crop management practices. A total of 920 farmers participated in the initiative for disseminating improved durum wheat. Additionally, 47 tons of high-quality seeds were distributed for 183 farmers. The implementation included demonstrations of recommended agronomic practices. Furthermore, more than 50 farmers engaged in farmer-participatory demonstrations focused on adequate nutrient management, specifically composting. The outcomes of the durum wheat dissemination revealed a notable improvement in the productivity of three durum wheat varieties, demonstrating an increase of 11.5% to 19.7% in both grain and straw yields, respectively, when compared to the control variety. The overall benefit for the new varieties amounts to approximately 1230 US $ ha-1, whereas the control stands at about 901 US $ ha-1, indicating a notable increase of 36.51%. The seed producers produced a total of 340 tons of high-quality seeds and 490 tons of straw. The total benefit from the difference between the agronomic and farmers package was about 208 US $ per hectare. The average increase in grain yield was 5% for compost practices, while the increase for straw yield was about 13%.

Halotolerant Endophytic Bacteria Regulate Growth and Field Performance of Two Durum Wheat Genotypes with Contrasting Salinity Tolerance Potential.

Soil salinity hampers durum wheat plant growth and development at various stages. The detrimental effects of salinity on plant cellular and physiological processes necessitate strategies to alleviate its negative impact and improve overall crop yield. This study investigates the efficacy of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) bacteria inoculation in mitigating salinity stress on two durum wheat genotypes with contrasting degrees of salinity tolerance (Tamaroi, salt-sensitive and Line 5004, salt-tolerant) under greenhouse and field conditions. For this purpose, two halotolerant-PGPR strains, Pseudomonas jordanii strain G34 and Oceanobacillus jordanicus strain GSFE11, were utilized for the inoculation. For the greenhouse experiment, the two selected genotypes were subjected to salinity at the flag leaf stage with continuous irrigation with a Hoagland solution supplemented with 50 mM NaCl. Field experiments were conducted across two locations with contrasting salinity levels over two growing seasons. At the end of both experiments, various parameters including total weight, spike weight, grain weight, spike number, spikelet number, grains per spike and thousand kernel weight were measured. The halotolerant PGPRs, P. jordanii strain G34 and O. jordanicus strain GSFE11, proved effective in alleviating salinity-induced adverse effects and enhancing growth under greenhouse and field conditions. However, bacterial inoculation significantly improved growth in the salt-sensitive genotype and such effects were not observed in the tolerant genotype, emphasizing genotype-specific responses. Notably, inoculation with O. jordanicus increased Na+ and Ca2+ uptake in the salt-tolerant "Line 5004" without hindering growth, suggesting one of its potential mechanisms for salt tolerance. This research demonstrates the potential of halotolerant-PGPR inoculation in enhancing durum wheat production in saline environments, but also underscores the importance of understanding genotype-specific responses for tailored interventions.

Effect of Different Tillage Operations on Soil Water Storage, Water Use Efficiency and Productivity of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in Semi-arid Region

Background: The low amount of rainfall and high loss of soil water through evaporation during spring; there are the dominant factors affecting crop production in semi-arid region. Methods: A field study was conducted during two cropping seasons of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) to compare the effect three tillage operations viz., no-tillage, minimum tillage and conventional tillage. Result: There was variation in precipitation between the experimental years (dry and rainfall seasons). All the parameters registered significant differences between the cropping seasons. Soil water storage to a depth of 0.4 m was higher under no tillage (NT) and minimum tillage (MT) in the first year as compared to conventional tillage (CT) in the first year. During the second year, the soil water content was same under different tillages. The thousand-kernel weight registered significant differences among the tillage operations viz., no till (36.09-50.36 g), minimum tillage (30.93-46.81 g) and conventional tillage (28.31-45.05 g) in the two seasons, respectively. Under no till treatment water use efficiency was high from grain production. The no till also recorded high grain yield of 1.07 t/ha and 4.7 t/ha during first and second year, respectively. The lack of rain was more detrimental in conventional tillage system as compared to no till and minimum tillage.

Sustainability performance evaluation in the organic durum wheat production: evidence from Italy

Sustainability performance evaluation in the organic durum wheat production: evidence from Italy

Genetic diversity of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) to mitigate abiotic stress: Drought, heat, and their combination.

Drought and heat are the main abiotic constraints affecting durum wheat production. This study aimed to screen for tolerance to drought, heat, and combined stresses in durum wheat, at the juvenile stage under controlled conditions. Five durum wheat genotypes, including four landraces and one improved genotype, were used to test their tolerance to abiotic stress. After 15 days of growing, treatments were applied as three drought levels (100, 50, and 25% field capacity (FC)), three heat stress levels (24, 30, and 35°C), and three combined treatments (100% FC at 24°C, 50% FC at 30°C and 25% FC at 35°C). The screening was performed using a set of morpho-physiological, and biochemical traits. The results showed that the tested stresses significantly affect all measured parameters. The dry matter content (DM) decreased by 37.1% under heat stress (35°C), by 37.3% under severe drought stress (25% FC), and by 53.2% under severe combined stress (25% FC at 35°C). Correlation analyses of drought and heat stress confirmed that aerial part length, dry matter content, hydrogen peroxide content, catalase, and Glutathione peroxidase activities could be efficient screening criteria for both stresses. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that only the landrace Aouija tolerated the three studied stresses, while Biskri and Hedhba genotypes were tolerant to drought and heat stresses and showed the same sensitivity under combined stress. Nevertheless, improved genotype Karim and the landrace Hmira were the most affected genotypes by drought, against a minimum growth for the Hmira genotype under heat stress. The results showed that combined drought and heat stresses had a more pronounced impact than simple effects. In addition, the tolerance of durum wheat to drought and heat stresses involves several adjustments of morpho-physiological and biochemical responses, which are proportional to the stress intensity.

Soil tillage reduction as a climate change mitigation strategy in Mediterranean cereal‐based cropping systems

AbstractAccording to climate change projections, global temperatures would increase by 2°C by 2070, and agriculture is expected to be among the most affected sectors, particularly intensive field crops like cereals. Therefore, researchers need to investigate the most cost‐effective agricultural strategies that can prevent production losses and ensure global food security. This study aimed to identify the limiting factors of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. Durum (Desf.) Husn.) yield production under Mediterranean conditions. Durum wheat yield data of over 5 years (2017–2022), from a 30‐year rainfed long‐term experiment conducted in the ‘Pasquale Rosati’ experimental farm of the Polytechnic University of Marche in Agugliano, Italy (43°32’ N, 13°22′ E, 100 a.s.l.) on Calcaric Gleyic Cambisols with a silt‐clay texture, were analysed and compared with the recorded thermo‐pluviometric trend. The field trial included two soil managements (no tillage vs. conventional tillage) and three Nitrogen (N) fertilization levels (0, 90, and 180 kg N ha−1). The most important driver for durum wheat production was N fertilization. However, in the absence of N fertilization, no tillage showed a higher yield (+1.2 t ha−1) than conventional tillage due to the accumulation of organic matter in the soil. When wheat was fertilized with 90 kg N ha−1, no tillage resulted in 25% yield more than conventional tillage (+1.2 t ha−1), but this occurred only when the increase in temperatures was constant from January until harvest (this happened in 3 of 5 years of monitoring). The non‐constant increase in temperature from January to wheat harvest may hamper crop phenological development and reduce the potential yield. The highest fertilization rate (180 Kg N ha−1) resulted in the highest wheat yields regardless of soil management and thermo‐pluviometric trends (5.78 t ha−1). After N fertilization and soil management, the minimum and maximum temperature in February and the maximum temperature in April were crucial for durum wheat production under Mediterranean condition. When there is non‐constant increase in temperature from January to wheat harvest no‐tillage should be preferred over conventional tillage because wheat yields did not reduce under no tillage. Thus, agricultural policies that support the switch from conventional tillage to no‐tillage management should be promoted to enable food security in Mediterranean environments.

Comparison of phenotypic variability of winter durum wheat varieties and lines according to the color characteristics of grain, cereals and pasta

There have been given the study results of grain color characteristics of winter durum wheat varieties and lines (Triticum durum Desf.). There has been studied the effect of factors (‘variety’, ‘year’ and their correlation) on the expression of the main breeding-valuable traits that affect the quality of the final product. The purpose of the current study was to determine the variability of phenotypic characteristics of grain associated with the number of yellow pigments in grain, the color of semolina and finished pasta, to study the correlation between indicators and to identify the most promising ones for further work. Field trials were carried out in the scientific crop rotation laboratory of breeding and seed production of winter durum wheat of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. Laboratory and analytical study was carried out in the laboratory of biochemical, technological and agrochemical estimation in accordance with generally accepted methods and GOST. As a result of the study, there has been established that the main effect on such characteristics of grain quality of winter durum wheat as ‘general hardiness’, ‘mass fraction of protein in grain’ and ‘grain color index b’ was produced by the factor ‘year of study’ by 67.0 %, 48 .2 % and 65.4 % respectively. The ‘cereal color index b’, ‘dry pasta color index b’ and visual estimation of dry pasta were mainly influenced by the factor ‘genotype’ by 62.3 %, 82.5 % and 48.3 %, respectively. The severity of the trait ‘content of carotenoid pigments’ depended on all factors. Over the years of the study, the winter durum wheat varieties and lines developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” according to color characteristics met the international requirements for durum wheat grain. As a result, the varieties ‘Grafit’ and ‘Karotinka’ stood out according to several studied characteristics in connection with which we recommend expanding the production crops of these varieties. There can be recommended to use promising lines 1147/19 and 971/19 and the variety ‘Solntsedar’ in the breeding process as sources with high color characteristics of grain and pasta.

The effect of seed sowing rates on spring durum wheat productivity

The purpose of the current study was to establish the effect of sowing rates of spring durum wheat on its productivity. There has been established that reducing seed sowing rates from 7 to 3 million germinated seeds per 1 ha allows reducing spring durum wheat vegetation period by 6–7 days. There has been identified maximum density of productive stems of the two varieties at a seeding rate of 6 and 7 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. The highest productive tillering capacity for two spring durum wheat varieties was obtained at the variant with a norm of 5 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. Thus, according to the experimental variants, the average plant height of the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Niva’ was 70.6 cm in the control variant and 81.8 cm at a sowing rate of 5 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. The variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya’ has produced the tallest plants of 79.5 cm, with a seeding rate of 4 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. There has been established that the length of a head also increases with a seeding rate decrease; for example, in the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Niva’, the maximum indicators of the main head were formed at a seeding rate of 5 million germinated seeds per 1 ha, where the maximum length of the main head was 6.7 cm, the number of grains was 27.5 pieces with a weight of 1.47 g. For the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya’, the maximum head length was 5.6 cm, and the number of grains was 24 pieces at a rate of 4 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. The fullest grain of the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Niva’ with 53.4 g of ‘1000-grain weight’ was formed at a seeding rate of 5 million germinated seeds per 1 ha; the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya’ was 50.4g with a norm of 6 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. The maximum productivity of the variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Niva’ was 3.54 t/ha with a seeding rate of 5 million germinated seeds per 1 ha. The variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya’ formed a yield of 3.23 t/ha with a seeding rate of 6 million germinated seeds per 1 ha.

Implications of leaf micro-morphological and structural parameters in the regulation of transpiration in durum wheat cultivars under semi-arid conditions of Algeria

Abstract. In Algeria, drought is a major abiotic constraint responsible for the low productivity of durum wheat. This study aims to identify some mechanisms involved in water deficit adaptation and tolerance. The tolerance mechanism is conditioned by different characteristics governing the regulation of transpiration in its two forms from the leaf. This study analyzed 23 durum wheat genotypes under two water regimes: irrigated and rain-fed.The results of this study showed that the variation of the transpiration level is strongly conditioned by the leaf micro morphological and structural parameters represented by a reduction in woody vessels diameter, the compaction of the mesophyll. Indeed, the reduction of transpiration is due to the decrease in stomata density on the lower side of the leaf. This reduction resulted in a reduction of coating cells size which induces the approach of the stomata fills.

The effect of phosphorus utilization efficiency on durum wheat cultivars under semi-arid environmental conditions

Faced with the high cost of phosphate fertilisers in several African countries, including Algeria, and in order to better select varieties according to their fertiliser use efficiency, this study was proposed. The goal of the study was to determine how “variety” impacts durum wheat's capacity to utilize phosphorus effectively and to try to pinpoint the agro-morphological factors that contribute to this efficiency so that they can be taken into consideration when choosing which varieties to sow in semi-arid environments. The experimental setup consisted of a split plot with two investigated factors and three repetitions, with the main plot receiving the phosphate treatment while the sub plot receives the variety. The trial set up consisted of 11 durum wheat varieties, which were cultivated over two years successively. The PUE of the fertiliser, provided in 46% triple superphosphate (TSP) granules, and agro-morphological parameters like aerial biomass, plant height, grain yield and yield components were determined. The findings demonstrated that triple superphosphate, a type of phosphorus fertilizer, increases grain yield by between 40 and 60% for all varieties examined as compared to the phosphorus-free control at the average dose employed in this field trial, or 20 kg P2O5.ha-1. This increase in yield is due to an increase: from 20 to 22% in the number of ears per m², 41.5% in the number of grains per ear, and 9% in the average weight of the grain. The PUE is strongly correlated to the yield components (Number of ears per square meter- NEM, Number of grains per ear- NGE, thousand grain weight- TGW and Yield) but also to the height at heading (r=0.86) and dry matter (r=0.85). Phosphorus use efficiency is also strongly correlated to flag leaf length and width as well as leaf area. Also, that genotypes with higher weight of thousand grains (WTG) showed better use of available phosphorus. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirms that the efficiency of phosphorus use by the varieties tested explains a large portion of the variation noted in these varieties. This genetic variation in PUE was associated with plant height and phosphorus content of the sown grains. These results could be of a significant impact in improving rainfed durum wheat productivity in semi-arid areas and preserving the environment as well. Key words: Durum wheat, Phosphorus use efficiency, Plant’s height, Genetic variation, Fertilizers’ reduction

The influence of individual elements of agricultural technology on the productivity of durum wheat in the southern forest-steppe of the Omsk region

Relevance. For the manufacture of high-quality pasta, durum wheat grain is used. Improving the productivity of hard spring wheat is an urgent task. The formation of a powerful root system is the key to the full supply of nutrients and plastic substances to the plant. Increased productivity, the number of spikebearing shoots. Plants become more resistant to adverse environmental factors, which is important for spring durum wheat, which is more demanding than spring soft wheat. The timing of sowing and especially the application of mineral fertilizers are a significant factor affecting not only the formation of individual elements of the crop structure, which subsequently form the productivity of plants, but also the formation of the root system. To do this, it is necessary to choose the optimal sowing time, at which the critical phases of plant development fall under the most favorable agrometeorological conditions and the formation of the most powerful root system.Results. The conducted studies allow us to recommend the most optimal terms of sowing and the use of fertilizers to ensure the efficiency of growing durum spring wheat. In dry conditions, when sowing crops without applying fertilizers, sowing in the second ten days of May is most effective. If it is possible to apply nitrogen fertilizers and nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers, it is better to sow durum spring wheat in the second and third decades of May.

Structure and Trends of Worldwide Research on Durum Wheat by Bibliographic Mapping

The bibliometric mapping approach is a quantitative methodology to analyze the structure and evolution of research activities in a scientific area or a discipline. The objective of the current study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the worldwide durum wheat literature published from 1961 to 2022 to identify topics and trends and their evolution over time. A total of 7512 documents were analyzed to generate bibliometric maps illustrating the main research topics. Most of the articles (91.6%) were published in indexed journals, with a low percentage (3.4%) in conference proceedings. The most active journals were the Journal of Cereal Science, Euphytica, Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Cereal Research Communications, and Cereal Chemistry. Italy, the USA, Canada, Spain, and France were the countries publishing the most documents. Research interests were focused on mutagenesis, interspecific hybridization, and technological quality in 1961–1980 and moved to conservation farming, molecular genetics, and nutritional quality in the last two decades. Future durum wheat production is facing challenges from climate change, water scarcity, and rising demand for sustainable food production. Advancements in molecular breeding techniques, genome editing, precision agriculture, and conservation farming can expedite wheat improvement and pave the way toward a healthier environment. The analysis of a large amount of bibliographic data provides useful information for researchers and policymakers and represents a starting point for a comprehensive discussion for future research.

Morpho-Anatomical Modulation of Seminal Roots in Response to Water Deficit in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum).

The productivity of durum wheat in Mediterranean regions is greatly reduced by water deficits that vary in intensity and time of occurrence. The development of more tolerant cultivars is the main solution for fighting these stresses, but this requires prior study of their mechanisms. The involvement of the root system in drought avoidance is of major importance. It is in this context that the present work attempts to establish the impact of morpho-anatomical remodeling of seminal roots on dehydration avoidance at the javelina stage in five durum wheat genotypes grown under three water regimes, 100%, 60% and 30% of field capacity (FC). In the last two treatments, which were applied by stopping irrigation, moisture was concentrated mainly in the depths of the substrate cylinders and was accompanied by greater root elongation compared with the control. The elongation reached rates of 20 and 22% in the ACSAD 1231 genotype and 12 and 13% in the Waha genotype, in the 60% FC and 30% FC treatments respectively. The seminal roots anatomy was also modified by water deficit in all genotypes but to different degrees. The diameter of vessels in the late metaxylem vessels was reduced, reaching 17.3 and 48.2% in the Waha genotype in the 60% FC and 30% FC treatments, respectively. The water deficit also increased the number of vessels in the early metaxylem, while reducing the diameter of its conducting vessels. ACSAD 1361 and Langlois genotypes stood out with the highest rates of diameter reduction. The morpho-anatomical transformations of the roots contributed effectively to the plants' absorption of water and, consequently, to the maintenance of a fairly high relative water content, approaching 80%.