Agronomic Characteristics and Cold Tolerance of Some Wheat Genotypes Under Different Ecological Locations

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics and cold tolerance of 18 wheat genotypes (11 advanced lines and 7 standard cultivars) under different ecological conditions of Eastern Anatolia. Field experiments were conducted during the 2021-2022 growing season in four locations (Erzurum-Aziziye, Erzurum-Pasinler, Erzincan, and Muş) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Agronomic traits such as grain yield, protein content, thousand grain weight, and hectoliter weight were measured. Cold tolerance was tested under controlled conditions at -15, -17, and -19 °C. The results revealed significant (P< 0.01) genotypic differences for all parameters. The average survival rates were 67.07%, 54.74%, and 38.08% at -15, -17, and -19 °C, respectively, indicating a clear decline with decreasing temperature. Among the genotypes, Parla and genotype 10 displayed the highest cold tolerance, while Esperia and Palandöken 97 exhibited superior protein and hectoliter weights. Lines 1 and 5 are thought to be suitable candidates for registration due to their high yield and large grains. PCA separated the genotypes based on yield, quality, and cold response, showing that the traits are largely independent. These results indicate a wide genetic variation for cold tolerance and quality traits among the tested materials, suggesting that genotypes such as Parla and Palandöken 97 could serve as valuable parents in breeding programs targeting cold tolerance and yield stability in harsh winter conditions

Keywords

• Wheat
• cold tolerance
• grain yield
• protein content
• thousand grain weight
• genotype × environment interaction

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