COMPARATIVE RESEARCH ON SEVERAL WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) GENOTYPES GROWN UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF DÂLGA- CĂLĂRAŞI

Abstract

Research was carried out between 2012 and 2014, under the soil-climate conditions of the Dâlga area, Călăraşi County, and included a comparative study of several winter wheat genotypes of foreign and local origin, as follows: four winter wheat varieties (Dropia, Glossa, Katarina, Mulan) and eight winter wheat hybrids (Hystar, Hyfi, Hywin, Hylux, Hyspeed, Hyland, Hybery, Hybiza). The experiment was established according to the randomized blocks method including three repetitive stages. The main goal of our research was the identification of the most competitive winter wheat varieties for the soil-climate conditions specific to the Romanian Plain. During our research, we performed phonological observations and determinations concerning plant density in autumn (plants/m2), plant density in spring (stems/m2), head density at harvesting time (ear/m2), grains weight per ear at harvest maturity (g), grain moisture (%) at harvesting time, the grain yield related to the area unit (kg/ha); we also carried out determinations concerning the main physical quality indices of grains: thousand grain weight and hectolitre weight. Sowing density was 500 germinable kernels/m2 for the winter wheat varieties and 200 germinable kernels/m2 for the winter wheat hybrids. The analysis of the average data for the two experimental years showed that the number of harvestable ears ranged between 545 ears/m² (Glossa) and 696 ears/m² (Katarina) in the winter wheat varieties, while the wheat hybrids varied between 559 ears/m² (Hybery) and 656 ears/m² (Hyspeed). Regarding their tillering capacity, the hybrids under study proved to be highly superior to the varieties. The analysis of the grain yields for the 12 winter wheat genotypes indicated that the recorded benefit values varied between 5623 kg/ha (Dropia) and 7291 kg/ha (Hystar), and that the tested hybrids were superior in productivity terms, as they recorded increased yields comprised between 316.2 Kg/ha and 1163.2 kg/ha, compared with the average of the average of the varieties, i.e. the control. The results obtained showed that the wheat hybrids had a high tillering capacity of forming fertile tillers, as six of the analysed hybrids recorded higher yields than the varieties.