Evaluation of and Variability in Yields and Yield Components of Wheat Cultivars in Northern Serbia

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this research is to examine the variability in yields and yield components of wheat cultivars in Northern Serbia, examine and visualize their groupings and relationships, and determine the correlations between their traits using principal components analysis (PCA). A total of fifteen wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.), developed in 10 different countries over a period exceeding 70 years, were analyzed during the growing seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 at Rimski šančevi, the experimental station of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. A phenotypic analysis was performed for the following wheat traits: spike weight, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, thousand grain weight, and grain yield. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, an analysis of variance, a correlation analysis for interactions between the traits considered, and PCA. The results obtained indicate significant differences between the genotypes according to all the traits examined. The correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the yields produced and nearly all yield components. The PCA confirmed the relationship between the traits examined, grouped the genotypes according to their performance, and highlighted the genotypes eligible for future breeding and research.