Biotech Studies 1997, Vol 6, Num, 2     (Pages: 001-012)

GENETIC GAINS IN YIELDS OF DURUM WHEAT (Triticum durum L.) CULTIVARS UNDER CENTRAL ANATOLIAN CONDITIONS

Abdulkadir AVÇİN 1 ,Muzaffer AVCI 1 ,Özgür DÖNMEZ 2

1 Dr., Tarla Bitkileri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü. Ankara
2 Zir. Müh., Tarla Bitkileri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü. Ankara
- Field experiments containing 5 durum wheat cultivars and one advanced line developed in the period of 1944-1991 were carried out under Central Anatolian conditions in order to investigate genetic gains in yields and yield components contributing to yield. According to the average yields, the lowest and the highest yielding varieties were Akbaşak-073/44 and çeşit-1252, respectively. The relationship between yield and years from release of the oldest variety used in the experiment was expressed by a equation of Y=301.167+1.0347X, r=0.8056**. The genetic gain was found to be 1.03 kg da.

In the analysis of the results, first of all, correlation coefficients between yield and yield components were measured. In addition, correlation coefficients were partitioned into direct and indirect effects through path analysis. According to the results, the component which was the most effective on yield was number of kernels per spike. Direct effect of kernes/spike on yield was found to be positive and high (1.2874). However, indirect effect of kernels/spike via spike/m2 was -0.6295 and as a result total correlation decreased (r=0.6427). Direct effect of biological yield on kernels/spike was positive and high (0.8649). Effect of the harvest index on kernels/spike was low (0.0184). In order to increase the durum yield under Central Anatolian conditions biological yield and number of kernels /spike should be increased without lowering harvest index. Keywords : Triticum durum L.; durum wheat; yield