Phenotypic, physiological, and technological evaluation of Serbian old wheat varieties for sustainable production

Abstract

Wheat breeding strategies, focused on the creation of varieties with high yield potential under optimized, intensive fertilization, have resulted in a loss of genetic diversity and reduced the ability of these varieties to perform well in low-input farming systems. Recent advances in plant phenotyping have opened new possibilities for the in-depth characterization of old and neglected wheat varieties considering their value for cultivation under stress-prone conditions. The aim of this paper was to assess the environmental sustainability of old wheat varieties that were grown in South East Europe before and at the beginning of the Green Revolution. The 30 wheat varieties were grown under rain-fed conditions during the 2024/25 growing season in experimental trials at Rimski Šančevi, Serbia. Field evaluation was conducted at three growth stages using 15 traits associated with yield and resilience to abiotic stresses with two non-destructive phenotyping devices - the Literal sensor (Hiphen) and the DUALEX optical leaf clip meter (Metos). After harvest, thousand grain weight and grain size were assessed using the MARViN (MARViTECH), while basic technological parameters were obtained by the GrainSense Analyzer (Oulu). ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences among the analysed genotypes for the studied traits, while the re-evaluation of old varieties under contemporary climate conditions, applying high-throughput phenotyping instruments, enabled elucidation of their value and potential role in wheat production under climate change.

Plant phenotyping relevance

複数の非破壊センサーと高スループット機器を用いて、品種の収量・ストレス関連形質を体系的に取得する方法適用が研究の主要部分である。

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