Peculiarities of studying adaptive properties of soft winter wheat of foreign breeding in the natural climatic conditions of the South foothill zone of the North-West Caucasus

A phased research work was carried out in the natural and climatic conditions of the southern foothill zone of the North-West Caucasus to study and identify adaptive properties and economically significant traits in various wheat lines bred by the Research Institute of Field Crops in the city of Dingxi, Gansu province (the PRC). The research was carried out to study and isolate grain productivity, resistance to the conditions of the autumn-winter period, lodging and diseases, as well as searching for a new source material for breeding work with a winter wheat crop. The studies included phenological observations, assessment of resistance to abiotic and biotic factors, analysis of sheaf material. In the course of the study, it was revealed that the tested wheat samples had differences in resistance to unfavorable conditions of the autumn-winter period. In the first year of the research, samples No. 1, No. 2 died, so did No. 6 in the second year. The stability of overwintered samples was marked at the level of 7 points. Samples No. 10, No. 11 were characterized by low resistance to lodging. The main part of the studied material of winter wheat had a growing season with sprouts and heading 6-8 days shorter than the standard Grom variety. Sample No. 2 was distinguished by the maximum distribution and development of brown rust, No. 7 – by Septoria disease. The grain yield varied at the level of 90–310 g/m2. Sample No. 4 (310 g/m2) and No. 7 (270 g/m2) showed a significantly higher grain yield than the standard of Grom variety (220 g/m2). The mass of 1 000 grains ranged from 30,0 g to 46,1 g. The height of the plants varied in the range of 55,2–111,9 cm. Sample No. 16 had the longest spike (9,8 cm). According to the number of grains of the main spike and the weight of grain, No. 16 stood out from the main spike. The maximum grain weight per plant was shown by No. 15 (5,6 g), No. 16 (4,8 g), No. 12 (5,1 g). The results of the initial comprehensive assessment indicate the possible use of these lines in agricultural production, as well as a starting material. Prospects for further study have been considered