Application and improvement of methods for selection of frost resistant winter wheat breeding material in hybrid populations

Abstract

Purpose. When creating soft winter wheat varieties, one of the most important plant properties is their ability to withstand unfavorable winter conditions, in particular, resistance to low temperature. For practical use in breeding it is important that the methods used for the selection for frost resistance would allow freezing significant amounts of material at low energy costs. The article presents the results of search for and application of such methods in breeding practice. A number of approaches were worked out to improve the methods of selection of frost resistant soft winter wheat breeding material in hybrid populations.

Methods. Freezing winter wheat seedlings was performed in a specially adjusted cameras LVN 200. Over the period of 2011 - 2013 diverse soft winter wheat breeding material was frozen. An optimal mode of hardening and freezing soft winter wheat seedlings was developed, and optimal conditions of rearing selected plants in the field for selecting frost resistant forms were chosen.

Results. The progeny of these plants was propagated, then frost resistance of the lines obtained in this manner was determined  to estimate the efficiency of our under-development method for selection of breeding material with increased frost resistance. Over 30% of the selected lines had a rather high frost resistance as compared to the standard, confirming the usefulness of the applied method for selection of frost resistant breeding material.

Conclusions. Our improved method of freezing seedlings can be used for selection of frost resistant breeding material from hybrid populations, as well as for  selection of positive mutations of frost resistance after exposure to mutagens. A schedule of freezing should be adjusted so that seedlings in the field could be planted in early April, under favorable weather conditions for survival.