Alekseyenko E. Development of the initial material for winter bread wheat breeding for tolerance to preharvest grain sprouting in an ear

The program for developing the initial material for winter bread wheat breeding for tolerance to preharvest grain sprouting in an ear has been theoretically grounded and practically implemented. Principal traits and properties of winter bread wheat which in the highest degree influence on tolerance to preharvest grain sprouting in an ear in the south of Ukraine has been defined. A new technique for selection of the initial material tolerant to preharvest grain sprouting in an ear has been developed. Efficiency of selection of genotypes tolerant to preharvest grain sprouting in an ear at early stages of breeding has been shown. The variety Balkivska and two constant lines (11/30 and 29/23) with the complex of valuable economical and biological characters, highly tolerant to preharvest grain sprouting in an ear have been developed. They can be used as the initial material for winter bread wheat breeding. Key words: winter bread wheat, plant breeding, variability of a character (sprouting), grain quality.