DURATION OF THE SHOOTS-TILLERING PERIOD IN THE SELECTION OF SPRING SOFT WHEAT FOR PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

The results of the study of 300 samples of spring soft wheat of various ecological and geographical origins are presented to isolate the source material with the optimal period of shoots – earing for breeding work in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the Middle Volga region. The researches were carried out in 2019–2021 in the Samara region. The study of collection samples was carried out according to the Methodology of the state variety testing and the methodological recommendations of the VIR. Weather conditions during the growing season of spring wheat were arid (and actually arid) and characterized the existing dynamics of climate warming in the region. A wide range of data variation was obtained both in the duration of the period of shoots – earing of collection samples (31-52 days) and in grain productivity (100-619 g/m²). It was found that for the forest-steppe zone of the Samara region and the Middle Volga region as whole, samples of spring soft wheat with the duration of the shoots – earing period from 39 to 42 days had the highest grain yield. It is noted that in conditions of a hotter and drier growing season (especially before wheat earing), the optimal duration of the shoots – earing period, which allows to obtain the highest possible crop productivity, is reduced to 33-37 days. On the contrary, in conditions of a cooler initial vegetation period (close to the average annual values), the optimal duration of the shoots – earing period is 38-42 days. On average for 2019–2021, the most productive were samples of the starting material with an average duration of the shoots – earing period of 39 days, which ensured the maximum average calculated yield of 315.8 g/m², and taking into account the HCP₀₅ = 10.1 g/m² in the range of 305.7-325.9 g/m². Samples with optimal parameters of the shoots – earing period are recommended for use in the breeding programs of the region.