Selection of spring durum wheat varieties for cultivation in the Chuvash Republic
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to conduct an agroecological estimation of middle-maturing spring durum wheat varieties and select the most promising ones for cultivation in the Chuvash Republic. There have been conducted trials with five varieties on experimental plots at the SSPC of the Chuvash State Agrarian University in 2023–2024. There have been studied such middle-maturing spring durum wheat varieties as Bezenchukskaya 182 (St), Marina, Bezenchukskaya 205, Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya, and Zolotaya Volna. There have been used such parameters for variety analysis as a length of a vegetation period, field germination, plant survival, productivity, grain unit weight, hardness, falling number, and crude gluten content. Phenological observations, records, and experimental observations were conducted according to the Methodology of the State Variety Testing. Physicochemical grain quality parameters were determined at the testing laboratory center of the Chuvash SAU. On average, over two years, the highest plant survival rates compared to the standard variety were demonstrated by the varieties Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya (82.6 %) and Zolotaya Volna (82.8 %). In 2023, grain productivity of the durum wheat varieties ranged from 1.8 to 3.6 t/ha. The varieties Zolotaya Volna and Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya produced the highest yields. In 2024, durum wheat productivity was slightly lower, ranging from 1.5 to 2.9 t/ha in the experimental variants. The variety Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya has demonstrated the maximum grain productivity of 3.2 t/ha. The largest grain unit weight of 763 g/l was recorded for the variety Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya. This variety also has a maximum grain hardness of 94 % with a falling number exceeding 300 seconds. The variety Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya has also produced a maximum crude gluten content of 28.1 %. The spring durum wheat variety Bezenchukskaya Zolotistaya is recommended for cultivation in the Chuvash Republic.