Selection studies on mutant bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) populations in Turkey

The effect of gamma irradiation on five common wheat cultivars which are all the spring cultivars, namely Gonen, Cumhuriyet, Ziyabey, Izmir and Basribey were studied. Various doses of gamma irradiation, i.e. (0-150-300 Gy) were applied to dry seed. The mutated populations were grown at two locations (Bornova and Alasehir) in the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 growing season. A total of 100 single plants were selected from each mutant and control population in 2003–2004 growing season. Twenty-five percent selection pressure was applied. The progeny rows of the selected mutant plants were grown at two locations in 2004–2005 growing season. A second stage selection was applied in each progeny population and selected mutant lines were advanced to the micro yield testing. Genetic advance at each stage of selection was estimated for single plant yield, and expected progeny means for plot yield was estimated. In certain mutant populations, heritability and phenotypic standard deviation values, genetic gains were higher than control population. The progeny means of the certain mutant populations were higher when compared with control populations as well