Yield and protein content in grain of winter triticale collection samples

The aim of the study is to characterize winter triticale samples by protein content in grain and productivity, to identify sources of high protein content and high grain yield for use in breeding process. Experimental work was carried out in the conditions of Tatarstan Republic in 2013-2017. The collection of 93 varieties of winter triticale of Russian selection, obtained from the Federal Research Center “All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources"(VIR) was evaluated in field trials. Wide genetic diversity of the studied gene pool was demonstrated by grain protein content (11.69...16.15 %) and grain yield (277...579 g/m2). Protein content and grain yield were mostly determined by the growing conditions – the factor “year” (58.1 % and 61.8 %, respectively), with a relatively small share of the factor “genotype” (23.9 % and 15.4 %, respectively). Significant variation in the values of the studied indicators, both by genotype and by year, was observed. There were identified 19 sources of high protein content in grain (over 14.5 %) and 17 sources of high grain yield (over 510 g/m2), which showed a significant excess of the standard Bashkirskaya korotkostebelnaya. A group of samples with a relatively high protein content (13.8 ... 14.1 %) and yield higher than the average value (450...500 g/m2) was identified. The highest breeding value among the sources of high yield was shown by samples Zimogor, Kornet, Privada, Vodoley, 3/9 oh Ag 4418, and among the sources of high protein content – Kurskaya stepnaya, Mir, Student, Svyatozar. The listed variety samples additionally possessed a complex of positive features: high ear productivity, high full-scale weight and large grains. In varieties Dokuchaevsky 8 and Privada there was noted a favorable combination of significantly high levels of yield (542 and 527 g/m2, respectively) and protein content in the grain (14.28 and 13.93 %, respectively). The finding of a reliable moderate negative correlation (r = -0.682) between yield and grain protein content indicates that grain protein content can be increased by breeding methods at relatively high or medium yields of varieties.