N.A. BOME, S. SALEKH1, K.P. KOROLEV, N.N. KOLOKOLOVA, L.I. WEISFELD,
and N.V. TETYANNIKOV
Winter cereals (wheat, triticale, and rye) are the most cultivated crops in Russia, and their yield and quality results from the combination of environment and farm management. Generally, winter cereals have a much higher yield than spring cereals due to the ability to use winter moisture for growth. The latest study aimed to conduct a comparative assessment of the winter wheat, triticale, and rye according to the variability of quantitative traits under the environmental conditions of Northern Trans-Urals, Russia, during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Results revealed that the genotypes of winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) showed improved harvests compared with winter wheat even under unfavorable environmental conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals, Russia. The chlorophyll content in the plant leaves was used as a tool for screening the genotypes of different winter cereals. Plant screening with the SPAD 502 Plus optical chlorophyll counter made it possible to determine the responses of genotypes to the heat and water stress conditions. For chlorophyll content in the flag leaf cells, intra- and inter-specific differences were observed. The fields of winter crops harvested in summer (late July to early August) can serve for growing multifunctional crops like ground cover, fodder, and green manure crops.
Keywords: Winter wheat, triticale, rye, diverse environments, chlorophyll, SPAD 502 device, cultivars testing
Key findings: Winter cereals (wheat, triticale, and rye) showed a high potential for winter hardiness, resistance to lack of moisture, and against high air temperatures, giving high grain yield. Thus, the study suggests them as promising under the environmental conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals, Russia. Further, in evaluating plant morphological traits, the chlorophyll content in leaves at using a portable meter SPAD 502 provides a useful criterion for screening the genotypes. The fields of winter crops harvested in summer can serve for growing multipurpose crops.
Date published: October 2022
DOI: http://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2022.54.4.10