Research Article

Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

Volume: 31 Number: 2 September 7, 2026

Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

Abstract

Visual selection in early stage of wheat breeding is usually implemented method. This study was conducted to compare breeders’ visual selection with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) selection. Three different selection protocols were used at Head Rows (HR) stage: Breeder visual, NDVI+ (high mean NDVI), and NDVI- (low mean NDVI). Some HRs were selected by both Breeder and NDVI+ (Breeder & NDVI+). Performances of HRs selected by each protocol were studied for grain yield and relationship of NDVI with yield in yield trials. 403 HRs of total 1246 HRs derived from 38 populations were selected by protocols at varying rates: 13.2% by Breeder, 10% by NDVI+, 3% by NDVI-, and 6.1% by Breeder & NDVI+. NDVI values measured at the pre-heading stage in the HR and early grain filling in the Preliminary Yield Trial (PYT) showed strong correlations with grain yield (r= 0.55** and r= 0.73**, respectively; p<0.01). Lines selected by NDVI+ and Breeder & NDVI+ protocols had higher mean NDVI and Area Under NDVI Curve (AUNDVIC) values than selected by Breeder and NDVI- protocols at both stages. The lines selected by Breeder & NDVI+ protocol had the highest mean grain yields, while NDVI- had the lowest at both stages. Thirty-four lines were advanced to Advanced Yield Trial (AYT) stage: 14 by Breeder, 13 by NDVI+, 1 by NDVI-, and 6 by Breeder & NDVI+. Considering the higher proportion of lines advanced by NDVI+ and Breeder & NDVI+ protocols, and the correlation between mean NDVI and grain yield at the HR and PYT stages, revealed that NDVI can improve selection efficiency.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Crop and Pasture Breeding

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 7, 2026

Submission Date

January 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 6, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 31 Number: 2

APA
Koç, E., Akın, B., Belen, S., Ozer, E., Subasi, K., Özdemir, F., Keser, M., & Morgounov, A. (2026). Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, 31(2). https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1860713
AMA
1.Koç E, Akın B, Belen S, et al. Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. TJFC. 2026;31(2). doi:10.17557/tjfc.1860713
Chicago
Koç, Emrah, Beyhan Akın, Savaş Belen, et al. 2026. “Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 31 (2). https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1860713.
EndNote
Koç E, Akın B, Belen S, Ozer E, Subasi K, Özdemir F, Keser M, Morgounov A (September 1, 2026) Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 31 2
IEEE
[1]E. Koç et al., “Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index”, TJFC, vol. 31, no. 2, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.17557/tjfc.1860713.
ISNAD
Koç, Emrah - Akın, Beyhan - Belen, Savaş - Ozer, Emel - Subasi, Kemal - Özdemir, Fatih - Keser, Mesut - Morgounov, Alexey. “Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops 31/2 (September 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1860713.
JAMA
1.Koç E, Akın B, Belen S, Ozer E, Subasi K, Özdemir F, Keser M, Morgounov A. Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. TJFC. 2026;31. doi:10.17557/tjfc.1860713.
MLA
Koç, Emrah, et al. “Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index”. Turkish Journal Of Field Crops, vol. 31, no. 2, Sept. 2026, doi:10.17557/tjfc.1860713.
Vancouver
1.Emrah Koç, Beyhan Akın, Savaş Belen, Emel Ozer, Kemal Subasi, Fatih Özdemir, Mesut Keser, Alexey Morgounov. Improving Selection Efficiency at the Head Rows Stage of Winter Wheat Breeding by Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. TJFC. 2026 Sep. 1;31(2). doi:10.17557/tjfc.1860713

Turkish Journal of Field Crops is published by the Society of Field Crops Science and issued twice a year.
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