Multivariate analysis of morphological traits and the most important productive traits of wheat in extreme wet conditions

Abstract

In these studies, 14 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp vulgare L.) genotypes were analyzed in three localities across the Republic of Serbia. Some morphological and the most important productive traits were analysed in order to determine the relationship between grain yield and these traits in the year with extreme wet conditions during period of intensive wheat development (April-June period). According to our results, period of stem extension, heading and grain filling characterized by lower air temperatures and extremely high rainfall at all three localities, had detrimental effects on the grain filling process. The genotypes KG-191/5-13 and KG-1/6 achieved above average values of the most desirable traits in all three localities, and can be singled out as desirable parents in breeding programs to create new and improved varieties of wheat. Based on the principal component analysis and cluster analysis, two groups of similar genotypes were distinguished. The highest degree of positive correlation was found between diameter of the first internode and diameter of top internode; number of spikelets per spike and number of fertile spikelets per spike; grain mass/spike and grain mass/plant; plant height and length of the top internode.