EVALUATION OF SOFT SPRING WHEAT LINES AND VARIETIES BY BREEDING INDICES

The studies were conducted in 2019-2023 to evaluate soft spring wheat samples for the main economically important traits and to identify valuable forms for breeding. The material for the study was 26 varieties and lines of spring soft wheat bred by Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture, standard – Khabarovchanka. The soil of the site is meadow-brown podzolic-gley heavy loamy with pHsalt less than 4.5 units. In May-July of 2019, the excessive waterlogging was noted (HTC=2.6), in 2021-2023 – drought conditions (HTC=1.0…1.4), in 2020 – within the average long-term values (HTC=1.7). According to grain yield (35.0…38.2 c/ha), the following varieties and breeding lines were distinguished: 21/1-01, 65/2-11, Zaryanka, 26/2-14, 19/1-14, 14/2-00, 29/8-06, 60/2-09, 11/7-14, Dalira, 48/2-14, 43/3-14, Elizaveta, 22/2-16, 47/1-14, which reliably exceeded the standard by 3.9…6.9 c/ha. The greatest influence on the productivity was exerted by the factor “year” - 67.8%, the effect of the factor “variety” reached 7.7%, their interaction - 24.5%. Promising for breeding work are the lines 94/3-09, 29/8-06, 55/5-09, 48/2-14, 19/1-14, 65/2-11, 26/2-14, 118/1-99, 47/1-14, 11/7-14, 65/1-17, 43/3-14, selected as a result of cluster analysis (Ward’s method) of standardized values of a number of breeding indices: Mexican, which characterizes resistance to lodging (MI = 0.012 ... 0.016); Canadian, allowing to estimate the specific ear yield (KI = 0.153 ... 0.171); Finno-Scandinavian, determining the grain-forming ability (FSI = 0.321 ... 0.383); linear density of the spike, reflecting the genotype-environment relationship (LPC = 3.769 ... 4.292); spike potential, which characterizes potential productivity (IPC = 0.076 ... 0.092); the ratio of size to the number of grains in the spike, demonstrating competitiveness (ICC = 0.976 ... 1.204); prospects, indicating breeding value (IP = 0.326 ... 0.390); plant productivity, which indicates resistance to unfavorable environmental factors (IPR = 7.757 ... 9.713). High-yielding lines with high selection value include 29/8-06, 55/5-09, 48/2-14, 19/1-14, 65/2-11, 26/2-14, 118/1-99, 47/1-14, 11/7-14, 65/1-17, 43/3-14.