Optimization of selection of highly productive winter common wheat genotypes using selection indices

The purpose of the current study was to estimate the informativeness of selection indices based on morphometric indicators and productivity elements of winter common wheat varieties in the Lower Volga region. Field trials were carried out in the selection crop rotation of the FSBSI “FARC of South-East”, Saratov. Climate zone was the Lower Volga region. The objects of the study were 14 varieties and promising lines of winter common wheat harvested in 2023 and 2024. The soil was low-power southern blackearth with solonetz patches; the wheat was sown black fallow. The productivity was recorded in two field repetitions. There were used dispersion and correlation methods of research. There were studied such selection indices as productivity, attraction, prospects, filling, ear potential, linear density of a ear, Mexican, Canadian, Poltava. All indicators were ranked from maximum to minimum. According to weather conditions, 2023 could be called favorable in general, and 2024 unfavorable. High productivity rank was found in the varieties ‘Podruga’, ‘Anastasiya’, ‘Kalach 60’, ‘Zhemchuzhina Povolzhya’ and the line ‘Santa/Kalach 60’. There is a high correlation between grain productivity and productivity index. Under unfavorable growing conditions, there have been also selected high-attraction varieties. In both years of research, one could rely on the productivity indices and attraction. Under more favorable conditions, selection could also be concentrated on indices of prospects, ear potential and filling. Such indices as Poltava, Canadian, linear density, plant productivity should be taken into account in arid conditions, since it is problematic to rely on them in favorable conditions. When analyzing the average rating estimation for selection indices for two years, there were identified 5 groups of variety samples according to the time of their development and plant height. Similar ranking schemes for the studied forms of winter wheat, with some changes, were obtained both in a favorable and an arid year. Thus, based on the experimental data, there can be argued that the use of selection indices in a complex, relying on the identified correlations with productivity, will give a positive result in breeding.