Effect of endosperm and seed size on some yield and quality characteristics of wheat (triticum aestivum l. em thell)

The study was carried out with 3 bread wheat varieties (resistant KateA-1, sensitive Sultan 95, and middle resistant Golia) which are different response to drought. It was aimed to determine changes of some yield and quality characteristics in the wheat varieties with different seed size in the study. Artificial drought stress was created by chemical desiccant application (potassium chlorate with %4) after 14 days to heading of varieties, and productions of undersized seeds were achieved in 2009-2010 growing season. Undersized seeds and normal seeds were sifted through sieves of different sizes, and different seed and endosperm sizes (control are over 2.5 mm, 2.0 mm and under 2.0 m, desiccants are over 2.0 m and under 2.0 m) were generated. Regarding of the results it was shown that variety KateA-1 that is resistant to drought gave better results than the others in different endosperm and seed sizes. To gather with decreases in seed size was shown reduces in characters such as grain yield, plant height, spike length, protein content, wet gluten content of the varieties. Gluten indexes values increased by decreases in grain size. No important statistical effects of seed size on number of spikelets per spike, number of grain per spike, grain weight per spike, number of tillers per plant, number of fertile tillers per plant, harvest index, spike index, thousand kernel weights and test weight were found. Among the desiccant treated seeds, the highest grain yield mean was obtained from seeds over 2.0 mm sieve of the varieties. In addition, it was shown that they gave results as well as control seeds over 2.5 mm and 2.0 mm sieve for the characters. According to results of the study, it is said that there is no inconvenient in the use as seed of grain over 2.0 mm sieve.