YIELD PERFORMANCES OF WINTER WHEAT (T. aestivum) GENOTYPES IMPROVED FOR DRY ENVIRONMENTAL REGION OF TURKEY

Abstract

The purpose of he study was to determine the progress of winter wheat cultivars developed during the last 45 years under the ecological conditions of Kirsehir province located in central Anatolia. A field trial arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications was conducted in 2017 and 2018.As a result of two years of research, it has been determined that cultivars have a grain yield between 2490 kg ha-1 (Gun 91) - 3620 kg ha-1 (Karahan 99) and fertile spikes number per square meter 377 - 552, grain number per spike 28.81 – 41.83, grain weight per spike 1.07 g – 1.52 g, harvest index 26.17% - 37.07%. The annual yield increase of the cultivars with genetic progress was found to be 10,29 kg ha-1 . While it was determined genetic progress in 6 of total 11 traits, was observed negative genetic change in the other traits. Specifically, it was determined that the genetic improvement seen in the grain number per spikelet, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, biomass yield and harvest index characteristics were found to contribute to the increase in grain yield. Characteristics seen genetic progress, have come to the forefront as selection parameters that wheat breeders working on rainfed conditions should emphasize. In addition, Karahan 99, Nacibey, Bayraktar 2000, Izgi 2001 and Bagci 2002 cultivars were determined as cultivars that could be recommended to be grown in dry environments of in winter region of Turkey.