Genotype–Environment Interaction, Productivity, and Adaptive Potential of Spring Wheat Varieties

Abstract

The assessment of productivity and the parameters of adaptability of vetted promising midseason and mid-late varieties of spring wheat under the conditions of the Northern Trans-Ural region was carried out. The varieties were tested in 2014–2016 using fallow as a background in three climatic zones: subtaiga (II zone), northern forest-steppe (III zone), and southern forest-steppe (IV zone). The highest interaction of genotype-environment was noted when calculating the correlation dependence between the productivity of varieties in various years of the test under the conditions of the southern forest-steppe zone (from r = –0.07 ± 0.28 to r = 0.41 ± 0.25). The highest maximum and average productivity according to the assessment of spring wheat varieties in nine environments (3 years × three state crop testing site) was the Aviada variety approved for use (5.86 and 3.78 t/ha, respectively) in the midseason group and promising variety Kvintus (6.98 and 4.58 t/ha) in the mid-late group. Significant productivity variability was noted. In the group of midseason varieties, its value ranged from 23.0 (Ikar) to 29.9% (Aviada), while that in mid-late varieties was from 25.6 (Riks) to 31.6% (Kvintus). The stress resistance of varieties was low regardless of the maturity group. In the group of midseason varieties, the Ikar variety had the highest index of stress resistance (–2.32), while Riks had the highest index in the mid-late group (–2.54). The highest average productivity under contrasting conditions among midseason varieties was observed for the Aviada variety (4.24 t/ha), and that among mid-late varieties was for the Kvintus variety (4.73 t/ha). In terms of responsiveness to changing conditions, three groups of varieties were distinguished: strongly responsive (midseason Lutestsens 70, Aviada, mid-late Melodiya, Kvintus), plastic (midseason Chernyava 13, Skent 3, Omskaya 36, Tyumenskaya 25, Tyumenskaya 29, mid-late Ingala, Yamalskaya) and weakly responsive (midseason varieties Ikar, Sigma, mid-late varieties Riks, Stepnaya Niva). In all varieties, regardless of the ripeness group, low homeostaticity was determined. The Ikar variety (Hom = 6.59) was the best based on homeostaticity in the midseason group, and Riks was the best in the mid-late group (Hom = 5.48). In general, all varieties were characterized by a low general adaptive ability (GAA). Relatively high values of GAA in the midseason group were found for the Aviada variety (GAA = 0.19) and for Kvintus (GAA = 0.50) in the mid-late group. Based on the comprehensive assessment of varieties in terms of productivity and adaptability parameters, Tyumenskaya 25 and Tyumenskaya 29 were the best midseason varieties in the North Trans-Urals, while Melodiya and Ingala were the best among mid-late varieties.