Adaptability of winter bread wheat by environmental plasticity and stability

Abstract

Purpose and objectives. The work was aimed to determine the winter bread wheat adaptability by environmental plasticity and stability via assessing yields and to identify high-yielding sources adapted to the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.

Material and methods. Twenty-nine winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accessions from nine countries were studied: 14 mid-tall accessions and 15 short-stemmed ones. The accessions were studied and their adaptability was determined by appropriate methods using general-scientific, special and genetic-statistical approaches.

Results and discussion. It was determined that the genotypic effect (ε_i) for yield ranged from 0.08 to 3.88 in the mid-tall group and from 0.11 to 5.64 in the short-stemmed group. The best adaptability (sum of ranks 2) in terms of environmental plasticity and stability was recorded for two mid-tall high-yielding domestic varieties (Haiok (εi = 2.24; Ri = 0.97) and MIP Lada (εi = 0.90; Ri = 0.92) (UKR)) and for two short-stemmed ones (sum of ranks 3) (MIP Valensiia (εi = 0.11; Ri = 0.67) (UKR) and Patras (εi = 1.38; Ri = 1.18) (DEU)). Dyvo and Optima Odeska (UKR) were noticeable for high freeze tolerance (7 points).

Conclusions. The study demonstrated that the highest genetic potential of adaptability in combination with high yields was intrinsic to the mid-tall domestic genotypes, Haiok and MIP Lada (UKR), which are valuable starting material for creating highly adaptable and promising winter bread wheat varieties for the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.