Evaluation of yield potential of rainfed wheat genotypes and lines in farm conditions

It is important to evaluate and display the potential of new cultivars and promising lines in farmers' conditions in order to introduce new cultivars and lines and increment the spread of them in farm conditions. For this purpose, thirty-three selected varieties/breeding lines from Dry Agriculture Research Institute (DARI) wheat breeding program were evaluated on farmers' fields at Koohdasht, based on randomized complete block design. Results indicated that Paya and Kabir varieties and G17, G18 and G31 lines had the highest grain yield with an average of 5280, 3985, 4210, 4003 and 3950 kg/ha, respectively. Grain yield showed positive and significant correlation with biological yield (BY), number of grain per spike (NGS) and harvest index (HI), and negative correlation between yield and day to maturity. Therefore BY, NGS, HI and early maturity can be used as suitable selection index to identify high-yielding genotype in the rainfed wheat breeding program. Paya and Kabir cultivars and G31, G18, G29, G17 and G16 lines were the best genotype for SIIG index. Based on cluster analysis results, genotypes were classify in three groups including early maturity- high yield  genotypes (class 1), early maturity- low yield genotypes (class 2) and early maturity- low yield genotypes (class 3). According to the results of this research, with the aim of sustainable wheat production in the tropical region that generally faced with late-season drought, new varieties of Kabir and Paya with high yield and early maturity are recommended. In addition, durum wheat lines G17, G18 and G32 with high performance and desirable agronomic characteristics can be considered in the variety introduction program or as parents in a breeding program.