Frost Resistance of T. aestivum L. Varieties from Different Geographical Origin

T. PETROVA, K. KOSTOV and E. PENCHEV

Institute of Wheat and Sunflower "Dobroudja", BG-9520 General Toshevo, Bulgaria

Abstract

PETROVA, T., K. KOSTOV and E. PENCHEV, 2000. Frost resistance of T. aestivum L. varieties from different geographical origin. Bul. J. Agric. Sci., 6: 133-138

In the years 1991/92, 1992/93, and 1994/95, 123 varieties from 11 countries were evaluated: Great Britain, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia and the Ukraine. They were compared to the varieties from the standard frost resistance scale – Mironovskaya 808, Bezostaya 1, No 301, Rusalka and San Pastore. We used a field-and-laboratory method which included growing of plants in pots, hardening under natural conditions and freezing in chambers at 3 single minimum temperatures.
Data for survival in percent were transformed through statistical method arcsin. Cluster analysis was applied to measure the similarities and differences between the varieties with regard to their response under various hardening and freezing conditions.
The studied varieties showed a great variability in their frost resistance. It was established that the frost resistance of the studied varieties increased with the change of their origin location, moving eastwards and northwards.
The results from this study could be used for assessment of these varieties as initial material for breeding.

Key words: winter wheat, varieties, frost resistance