Adaptive potential of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties of Azerbaijan

Background. Studies into the adaptability of the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and their wild relatives to various environments are induced by global climate change. Introduction of adaptive wheat cultivars resistant to environmental stressors is the basis for stable harvests. This article presents the results of a research into the adaptive value of indigenous durum wheat varieties and improved cultivars released in different years in Azerbaijan.Materials and methods. The experiments were carried out in the foothills of Mountainous Shirvan under unsecured non-irrigation at Gobustan Experiment Station of the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry. In 2012–2014, contrasting in weather conditions, levels and structure of yield were analyzed. VIR’s guidelines were used to study 42 durum wheat varie ties, including 10 landraces. The years of study differed sharply in rainfall. Selyaninov’s hydrothermal coefficient was used to assess the conditions of growing seasons.Results. Mostly modern cultivars of the semi-intensive type were distinguished for a set of agrobiological traits. Adaptability coefficients (0.81–1.23) showed that the response of the studied varieties to unfavorable conditions was highly expressed. Indigenous landraces ‘Ag bughda’ and ‘Bozak’, old breeding varieties ‘Arandani’, ‘Ag bughda 13’, ‘Kahraba’ and ‘Mirbashir 50’, and new cultivars ‘Karagilchig 2’ and ‘Barakatli 95’ had the highest adaptability coefficients. The first of them demonstrated stable yield, and the latter two were also resistant to stressors.Conclusion. Durum wheat yields under the conditions of moderately continental climate in Mountainous Shirvan depended on the number and weight of grains per ear. The varieties identified for the best adaptability are recommended to be included in crosses to develop new plastic cultivars of durum wheat

MORPHOBIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF BREAD WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) IN AZERBAIJAN

The article presents information on the distribution of bread wheat in South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan. The subspecies and varietal composition and history of traditional and newly bred varieties of bread wheat are considered. It is shown that ecotype-contrasting groups of varieties should be used to obtain reliable scientific results on the comparative study of physiological and biochemical characteristics

NEW SPONTANEOUS INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS AND MUTANTS OF WHEAT IN AZERBAIJAN

The article gives the results of study of interspecific hybrids of wheat, harvested at the territory of Azerbaijan. It was given a morphobiologic characteristic of dwarf mutant and fertile constant interspecific hybrid, incomplete amphidiploids and other rare species of wheat.  It has been determined that the dwarf mutant phenotypically differed from the standard T.vavilovii in a plant height, stem size, spicklet length, a number of spikelets, a number of grains per a spicklet, short and very wide mesophytic leaves, anthocyanin ligule.  Electrophoretic analysis of additional proteins in grain showed that the dwarf mutant differs from the standard T.vavilovii even genotypically in allele blocks of additional proteins of grain. The found interspecific hybrid is constant in pheno- and genotype and possesses some unique traits of a spicklet. The hybrid is tall (165-170 cm), but resistant to lodging. In the phase of tillering anthocyanin sprouts are covered with a waxy bloom, and the time of life is winter and spring. The spicklet is awnless, very loose and long, the density is low (D=10,0-10,3). The stem of the spicklet is very strong. Elongatedare lanceolate spikelet glumes are white, narrow to the bottom, not extruded at the bottom of the glumes. The stem is strong. The spicklet is half-rigid, but it’s easily threshed. It has been found out, that phenotypically identical interspecific hybrid of wheat is genotipically stable and possesses unique allele blocks which other hexaploid wheat varieties don’t have. The hybrids ‘T.spelta’ and ‘T.polonicum’ turned to be non-constant and new botanic forms have been bred

CONNECTION OF MORPHOLOGIC FEATURES OF DURUM WHEAT (T.DURUM DESF.) WITH DROUGHT TOLERANCE

The article considers the results of study of role of physical characteristics in ‘productivity during drought’ and drought tolerance of spring and winter wheat. It was found, that drought tolerance of durum wheat in different hydro thermal conditions and drought types was connected with different characteristics. It allowed us to conclude that a more reliable assessment was possible when using several methods and technologies simultaneously, based on various physiological criteria. It was revealed that the more tolerant to drought varieties showed larger figures of water-holding capacity. Among the traits which allow recognizing drought tolerance we can note high values of water loss while wilting and low values of a net productivity of photosynthesis. We found essential to use a math method of statusmetria to make large amount of productive and physiological data more informative and compact. The use of statusmetria gave us an opportunity to find differences in the samples’ reaction to drought depending on the time and duration. We found and gave quantitative assessment of those morpho physiologic parameters, which show the most productivity and stability under definite hydro thermal conditions. To create drought tolerant primary material we suggest combining the study of breeding material by screening, express methods with further detailed study of yield stability and morpho physiologic features of drought tolerance of the samples