Assessment of genetic diversity in wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotype for cold tolerance, agronomic, and quality traits

Context Wheat (Triticum aestvium) contributes approximately 19% of daily caloric intake and 21% of protein in human diet, and is increasingly threatened by climate change-induced drought, erratic rainfall patterns, disease outbreaks, pest infestations, and cold damage, compounded by disruptions from political conflicts. Exposure to low temperatures induces morphological and physiological changes in plants, with the severity of these alterations depending on the duration of exposure. Aims This study aimed to identify promising genotypes derived from the wheat genotype Kırik that exhibit superior yield, yield components, grain quality, and cold resistance traits. Methods We assessed 186 genotypes from Kırik wheat collections obtained from farmers in the eastern Anatolia region of Türkiye, along with eight standard varieties. These genotypes were cultivated at altitudes exceeding 1850 m during the 2019–2022 production seasons based on an augmented design. Key results Several genotypes showed outstanding agronomic and quality traits: genotype G-56 had superior grain yield and grain weight per spike; G-102 had the highest number of spikes per m2; G-140 had the greatest spike length; G-80 had high wet gluten content, hectolitre (hL) weight, and gluten index; and G-34 had the highest protein content. Conclusions Wheat genotype Kırik is a potential source of genetic material for wheat breeding under adverse environmental and political conditions. Implications The superior genotypes derived from the Kırik genotype exhibit notable agronomic and quality characteristics, suggesting their potential utility as parental lines in pre-breeding programmes aimed at developing high-performing, climate-resilient wheat varieties.