The starting material is the basis of heterotic wheat breeding

A. Rakov¹*, Y. Dmytrenko¹, R. Spriazhka¹ and Y. Zaika¹²

¹National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine,
15 Heroyiv Oborony Str., UA03041 Kyiv, Ukraine
²The V.M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, 68 Tsentralna Str., village Central, Myronivskyi district, UA08853 Kyiv region, Ukraine
*Correspondence: a.rakov@nubip.edu.ua

Abstract:

This study addresses key aspects of developing initial breeding material for heterosis breeding in bread winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In the context of climate change and threats to food security, particularly in Ukraine, the creation of new high-yielding hybrids resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses is of paramount importance. The research involved a comprehensive assessment of 78 winter wheat varieties from the Ukrainian National Gene Bank. Field trials were conducted during 2022–2024 at the Agronomic Research Station (Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine) using a randomized complete block design with three replications.

The study focused on morphological and physiological traits influencing cross-pollination efficiency, including anther extrusion (VAEX-method scored on a 1–9 scale), plant height (cm), flowering synchrony (days from January 1 to heading), spike characteristics, grain yield (t ha⁻¹), and resistance to pathogens (septoria, powdery mildew; % leaf area affected) and winter hardiness (1–9 score).

Cluster analysis revealed three distinct groups with specific breeding potential. Group 1 (Achim, Mescal, Yuvileyna Patona) demonstrated the highest spike productivity (61.2–63.6 grains/spike; grain mass 2.8–3.4 g) and yield (6.1–6.2 t ha^-1). Female components (Group 2: Altigo, Soborna, Taira) exhibited short plant height (71.4–78.2 cm) and early heading time (140.3–144.0 days). Male components (Group 3: Zoreslava, Metelytsya Kharkivska, Urbanus, Liryka Bilotserkivska, and Kyivska 17, etc.) were characterized by tall plant height (80.3–89.8 cm) and high anther extrusion (6.3–7.5 score).

A topcross mating design is proposed for further evaluation of combining ability and heterosis effects. The results provide a foundation for the development of hybrid wheat breeding programs under Ukrainian conditions, with an emphasis on parental lines with complementary flowering biology and agronomic performance.

Key words:

anther extrusion, bread wheat, heterosis, hybrid breeding, parental selection, Triticum aestivum L

Breeding and genetic screening of F1 hybrids of soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by manifestation ofresistance to Fusarium graminearum Schwabe

O.A. Demydov¹, V.V. Kyrylenko¹, L.A. Murashko¹, O.V Humenyuk¹, Yu.M. Suddenko¹, T.I. Mukha¹, H.B. Volohdina¹, N.P. Zamlila¹, N.V. Novytska² and B.O Mazurenko²*

¹The V.M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat, NAAS of Ukraine, Tsentralna Str., 68, UA-08853 v. Tsentralne, Kyiv region, Ukraine
²National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Department of Plant Science, Heroiv Oborony Str., 15, Kyiv 03041, Ukraine
*Correspondence: mazurenko.bohdan@nubip.edu.ua

Abstract:

Diseases of field crops significantly reduce yield and the quality of agricultural products. Developing resistant varieties is one of the tasks for enhancing agroecosystem resilience. The creation of infectious material for the background pathogen and heterosis analysis of F₁ hybrids of soft winter wheat for resistance against Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (F. graminearum) and elements of spike productivity was the goal of the conducted research. The analysis of F₁ genotypes of wheat for resistance against F. graminearum was carried out in field infections and natural nurseries of the wheat breeding laboratory of The V.M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of the NAAS of Ukraine (located in the northern part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine) during 2021 and 2022. The most aggressive isolates of the F. graminearum fungus were identified for developing inoculum and creating an artificial infection background in field conditions. In terms of the inheritance of resistance and spike productivity traits, 29.4% of hybrid populations of the first generation were selected. Positive dominance for the complex of investigated traits was found in hybrid combinations where sources of resistance against Fusarium graminearum (MV 20-88 × Smuhlianka, (Mikon × ALMA) × Lehenda Myronivska and local winter wheat varieties MIP Knyazhna, MIP Vyshyvanka were involved in the crossbreeding. It was established that cytoplasmic genes enhance the dominance of genes for complex resistance in one crossbreeding group. The best combinations with positive dominance in resistance to fusarium can be utilized in the development of highly resistant varieties.

Key words: