Electronic Journal of Biology

Keywords

Cold climate; Grain yield and its components; On-farm trial; Promising line; Winter wheat.

1. Introduction

Since more than one hundred twenty thousand hectares wheat has sown in the west Azerbaijan province of Iran. It is the first product within crops and one of the main sources of income who farmers planting wheat. Therefore identifying lines with high yield potential and compatible with limiting production of conditions in terms of income and employment is important in the province [1-10].

There are different methods and tools for technology transfer to the farmer's field. On-farm research has been known as an essential implement and effective method for developing and transmitting the new applied researchers' results into the farmers' field [10- 18]. It also has an indispensable duty for screening and substantiation of farming applied science under local farmer's conditions. Furthermore, on-farm research creates suitable conditions for participatory management of the researchers, extension agents and farmers for the finding of agricultural problems in the rural areas [18]. In order to transmit the new applied researchers' results into farmers' field, Moayedi [8] compared promising drum wheat lines in two farmer's field. Results showed that there were significant differences for interaction of genotype × location on grain yield. D-84-3 produced the highest grain yield and it might be used as stable breeding materials under farmer's field conditions [8].

Grain yield and its stability of wheat genotypes are important in breeding programs. This can be used to select promising wheat genotypes across multi environments. Therefore Aydin et al. [2] sowed different wheat genotypes in seven environments in central black sea region and selected three genotypes for release procedure with good yield potential and acceptable end use quality. Ahmadi et al. [1] in targeting promising bread wheat lines for cold climate environments with using of AMMI and GGE bi-plot analyses found two lines had high grain yield at different environments. They concluded that AMMI and GGE bi-plots facilitated visual comparison and identification of superior genotypes [1]. Khan et al. [6] in evaluating five promising wheat lines revealed that the overall mean grain yield of genotypes across environments ranged from 1198 to 2202 kg/ ha at three locations under rainfall conditions of Balochistan, Pakistan. Cultivar "AZRC-3" having regression coefficient close to unity and higher grain yield showed consistent performance and considered as stable and widely adopted [6]. Khajavi et al. [5] tested genetic diversity of twenty barley lines based on pheno-morphological traits and selected five promising lines. These genotypes introduced as superior lines for releasing and replacing common cultivars [5]. Nabaty and Shaban [11] compared barley promising lines under two temperate locations of Iran. Results showed that barley yield in Boroujerd was the highest for "MB83-3" line and in Dorud location was the highest for common Nosrat cultivar. They selected line of "MB83-3" for complimentary studies [11]. Mohammadi and Haghparast [10] in analyzing of genotype by farmers' field trials data showed that the farmers' field main effect was the predominant source of variation. Great variations exit in the agro ecological conditions within the region in terms of altitude, temperature, and soil characteristics, etc.; therefore Baig et al. [3] evaluated wheat promising lines for grain yield over three locations. Results showed that "Chakwal-97" line gave higher grain yield with 4955 kgha-1. Ramazani and Tajalli [13] in testing triticale promising line recommended ET- 83-18 new line can be replaced by Juanillo-92 old cultivar under Birjand and similar areas conditions of Iran. The objective of this research was evaluation wheat grain yield promising lines of C-89-6, C-89-7 and C-89-15and comparison of them with Mihan as control cultivar and possibility replacing with old and conventional varieties under on farm conditions.

2. Materials and Methods

Two field experiments were conducted in cropping seasons of 2014-2015 under on-farm conditions at Urmia and Oshnavieh cities. Three promising lines including C-89-6 (Fdo 2062), C-89-7 (Zarin*2/ Gaspard) and C-89-15 (Fdo 4085) evaluated with Mihan cultivar as a control. Each genotype was planted at 0.5 hectare at two locations under optimum growth conditions. At harvesting time 10 samples randomly selected and areas of each harvesting sample were 2 square meter for each genotype at two locations. Evaluated traits were plant height, spike length, number of spikelets at per spike, grains per spike, number of spikes at per square meter, 1000-kernel weight, grain yield, total dry matter and harvest index. In addition, Grain yield of total area were measured separately for each genotype at two locations. Husbandry operations were carried out based on conventional methods. So, the field was deep plowing in April and spread triple super phosphate fertilizer at the rate of 100 kg per hectare and was hit hard in August. At the time of cultivation (15 September and 30 October) nitrogen fertilizer was applied based on soil test about 200 kg per hectare. 70 kg per hectare nitrogen based fertilizer was spread at first time and the rest was added at two stages during stem elongation and heading. Cultivation was carried out with farmers' method. Furrow irrigation was done five times at growing stages until physiological maturity. To prevent smut infection, before sowing, seeds were sterilized with Carboxyinthiram fungicide. For weed controlling Topic and Ganstar toxins were used for broad-leaf weeds and grasses at the stem elongation stage, respectively. During the period of plant growth, germination time, cold damage, date of tillering, number of days to heading and maturity were recorded.

3. Climatic Conditions

Cities of Urmia and Oshnavieh were located in West Azerbaijan province, Iran and had semi-arid region. Period of below-freezing temperature was 90 to 100 days which in seasons of January, February and March reached to its minimum values (Table 1).

Table 1. Meteorological parameters of Urmia and Oshnavieh experimental locations in seasons of 2014-2015. 

Autumn rain almost starts from late of October and most rainfall occurs when plant growth is low and slow. With increasing temperature, precipitation cut and evaporation rate arise in the second half of the May. During grain filling period in May and cut off rainfall, in addition, temperature rise, relative humidity reduce and hot winds start and blast damage can be seen in various areas.

4. Statistical Analysis

The skewness to the right, left and kurtosis of data were calculated with Mstat-C software for regions of Urmia and Oshnavieh. After ensuring be normal data, simple and combined analysis of variance based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) were done with Mstat-C software. Significant Fischer values of traits selected for man comparison of genotypes. Means of genotypes, locations and interactions between them were compared with Duncan's multiple range tests. Range of variation, standard deviation, coefficient of variation calculated for regions of Urmia and Oshnavieh and C-89-6, C-89-7, C-89-15 and Mihan genotypes.

5. Results and Discussion

Skewness and kurtosis of data were calculated to ensure normal distribution of nine traits of Urmia and Oshnavieh conditions. Results showed that data were normally distributed and hadn't statistically significant difference with Student's t test (p ≤ 0.05) (Table 2). For achieving the most possible grain yield on a given site, farmers must use promising lines that are adapted to particular environments, which fluctuate with different seasons and locations as like our results [4].

Table 2. Skewness and kurtosis of wheat traits under Urmia and Oshnavieh on-farm conditions in 2014-2015 seasons.

Regardless of genotype, parameters of least and most, sum, average, variance, standard deviation and standard error of data were calculated for individual traits and each location (Table 3). For trait of plant height and harvest index each city had similar values. The highest grain yield and total dry matter dedicated for Oshnavieh 1052 g/m² and 1990 g/m², respectively. In addition, traits of these genotypes in this city for variance, standard deviation and standard error parameters were higher than Orumiyeh. By examining major components of grain yield, number of grains at per spike (35.35) had more in genotypes sown in Orumiyeh. While number of spikes per square meter (715.04) was more for genotypes sown in Oshnavieh. In addition, 1000 kernel weight was in the range of 40 to 41 g at in both locations. Grain yield variability was result of the potential growing conditions in each location generated by differences in lines and its distribution during the vegetative and reproductive stages [11].

Table 3. Statistical parameters of wheat traits under Urmia and Oshnavieh on-farm conditions in 2014-2015 seasons.

5.1 Simple analysis of variance for Urmia location

Simple analysis of variance showed that traits of plant height and 1000 kernel weight were significantly differences between genotypes (p ≤ 0.01). The highest and lowest coefficient of variation in this location was related to harvest index and 1000 kernal weight with 23.37% and 8.44%, respectively. C-89- 7 elite line and Mihan cultivar had the highest plant height with 65.27 cm and 62.55 cm, respectively. In contrast, line C-89-6 and C-89-15, with 53 cm and 52 cm were the lowest value (Table 4). 1000 kernel weight of genotypes varied between 35 to 46 g. So that 35 g and 46 g were related to elite lines of C-89- 6 and C-89-7, respectively. Also 1000 kernel weight Mihan as control cultivar was 43.58 g. Nabaty and Shaban [12] examined the effects of location and lines on yield and other favorable characteristics of wheat genotypes at Aligoodarz and Dorud, Iran conditions. They selected "Homa" genotype to complimentary studies [12].

Table 4. Mean comparison of wheat genotypes under Urmia on-farm conditions in 2014-2015 seasons.

5.2 Simple analysis of variance for Oshnavieh location

Simple analysis of variance for Oshnavieh location showed that for traits of plant height, ear length, number of spikelet at per spike, number of grain at per spike, number of spike at per square meter, 1000 kernel weight and total dry matter were statistically significant differences between genotypes at least p ≤ 0.05 probability level. The most coefficient of variation allocated in grain yield and harvest index 18.83 and 18.62%, respectively. In contrast, the lowest value assigned 1000 kernel weight 8.73% and plant height 8.97%. C-89-7 promising line had the most plant height, spike length and 1000 kernel weight, 71.31 cm, 6.87 cm and 46.88 g, respectively. To traits of main components grain yield, line C-89-15 possessed maximum number of kernel at per ear (50.36 grain) and number of spike at per square meter (847 ear) and medial 1000-kernel weight. Except of C-89-6 line, other genotypes had the same amounts of total dry matter and stayed together in a statistically group (Table 5). Also, Salari et al. [15] to determine similarity and genetic distances of advanced lines divided them into three groups under Kabul, Afghanistan conditions. They found exotic lines to be adapted to the same conditions, and can be utilized in local breeding programs [14].

Table 5. Mean comparison of wheat genotypes under Oshnavieh on-farm conditions in 2014-2015 seasons.

5.3 Bartlett's test

Before combined analyzing of variance for traits of two Urmia and Oshnavieh locations experimental error variances of them were examined by Bartlett's and Chi-square tests. After ensuring uniformity of experimental errors, combined analysis of variance was performed (Table 6). All of traits didn't show statistically significant differences and it represents uniformity of variances at two locations.