Response to F3 Selection for Grain Yield in Durum Wheat [Triticum turgidum (L.) Thell. ssp. turgidum conv. durum (Desf.) Mac Key] under South Mediterranean Conditions
Zahira Laala
Valorization of Natural Biological Resources Laboratory (VNBR Lab), Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, 19000, Algeria.
Amar Benmahammed
Valorization of Natural Biological Resources Laboratory (VNBR Lab), Department of Ecology and Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, 19000, Algeria.
Abdelmalek Oulmi
Valorization of Natural Biological Resources Laboratory (VNBR Lab), Department of Ecology and Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, 19000, Algeria.
Zine El Abidine Fellahi *
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural, Life and Earth Sciences and the Universe, University of Mohamed El Bachir El Ibrahimi, Bordj Bou Arreridj, 34030, Algeria.
Hamenna Bouzerzour
Valorization of Natural Biological Resources Laboratory (VNBR Lab), Department of Ecology and Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, 19000, Algeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An experiment was carried out at the Field Crop Institute, Agricultural Research Station of Setif (ITGC-ARS, Setif, Algeria), to assess the response to early generation selection in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Results indicated the presence of sufficient variability to warrant selection. Correlation coefficients of biological yield, plant height, spike number, kernels per spike, harvest index and days to heading with grain yield were significant. Path analysis emphasized the direct and indirect effects of biomass yield, spike number and harvest index on grain yield, suggesting that F3-selection based on one or simultaneously on all these traits would result in significant direct and correlated responses. However, intergeneration correlation and parent-offspring regression coefficients predicted that F3-selection based on biomass yield, spike number, harvest index, 1000-kernel weight and grain yield will be ineffective while plant height and days to heading selection will be efficient. Direct and correlated responses to F3-selection for biomass yield, spike number, harvest index, 1000-kernel weight, plant height, days to heading and grain yield confirmed predictions drawn from intergeneration correlation and parent-offspring regression coefficients. Inefficiency of F3-selection was attributed to genotype x environment interaction. The overall results suggested that early generation selection should be restricted to plant height and days to heading while selection to improve grain yield directly or via related traits should be delayed to later advanced generation.
Keywords: Triticum durum, F3 selection, path analysis, intergeneration correlation, parent-offspring regression, response, realized heritability