Spelt wheat lines of Uman National University of Horticulture

Abstract

Goal. To analyze and systematize spelt wheat lines of Uman National University of Horticulture aiming to selection of valuable initial forms with high grain quality and involvement of them into breeding to create highly-productivve varieties of the crop. Results and Discussion. Over 300 spelt wheat lines were created by remote hybridization. They significantly differ by expression of economically valuable traits. The plant height varied within 52–129 cm. Ten accessions were significant taller than the standard. Tall, medium-height and dwarf forms were selected. The grain weight per ear did not varied significantly (V=36 %). The grain weight per ear in accessions 1695, 1691, 1755, 1559, 1674, 1817, and 1786 was significantly higher than that in the standard. We selected accessions that significantly exceeded the standard by yield capacity. At the same time, they were easily threshed (80–90 %); accessions 1559 and 1786 had high protein content of 21.2 % and 22.3 %, respectively, and high gluten content of 44.5 % and 45.2 %, respectively. The highest protein content was recorded in accessions 1721 (24.0 %) and 1691 (22.8 %). The 1000-kernel weight was significantly increased in accessions 1559 (65.0 g), 1691 (55.1 g), and 1674 (55.5 g). Early-ripening forms (1674 и 1719) maturing by 7–10 days earlier than bread wheat were distinguished. Accessions 1674 and 1721 were highly resistant to brown rust. Conclusions. Remote hybridization of spelt wheat with bread winter wheat is an effective way to improve this crop via breeding. Among over 300 lines of spelt wheat obtained by this method, there were especially valuable accessions combining high yields with high grain quality: accession 1817 with the gluten content of 45.2%, protein content of 22.3% and yield of 6.55 t/ha and accession 1559 containing 44.5% of gluten, 21.2% of protein and giving a yield of 6.36 t/ha. These accessions will be submitted to the state registration. Winter spelt wheat variety Evropa listed in the State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine since 2015 resulted from hybridization between bread wheat and spelt wheat.