Kazakhstan is a major wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) producer, with a planting area of 12–14 million hectares, and ranks third in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) market for grains and flour production. In the future, Kazakhstan could produce more than 10 million tons of wheat, equivalent to the combined wheat production of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the European Union. The following research aimed to identify methodological aspects comprising the development of the ideotypes (non-irrigated, dry steppe, and intensive) and new spring soft and perspective lines of wheat cultivars with a complex of valuable traits. The research source material was the spring wheat cultivars and hybrids and advanced lines. The establishment of spring wheat nurseries, records and observations, hybridization, evaluation, and statistical compilation of the recorded data proceeded using methodologies developed through domestic and foreign sources. Overall, the study identified the methodological aspects and research work directions and developed ideotypes and 29 cultivars of spring wheat and two cultivars of facultative soft wheat, approved for use in production in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Promising lines of soft spring wheat have succeeded in their identification for further breeding work. New varieties and promising lines are also new sources of valuable traits and properties for breeders and geneticists.
Wheat (T. aestivum L.), breeding, cultivars and advanced lines, valuable traits, growing seasons, disease resistance, grain yield and quality
The identification of methodological aspects about the wheat (T. aestivum L.) breeding was successful, as well as the development of ideotypes, 29 spring wheat, and two facultative soft wheat cultivars, which also reached approval for use in production in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Moreover, they are sources of valuable traits and properties for work in wheat breeding and genetics.