Dubenets M. Adaptive potential of winter wheat varieties in the stressful environment of the forest–steppe of Ukraine

Object of the study - adaptive potential of soft winter wheat varieties depending on environmental conditions. Purpose of the research – peculiarities of displaying of agronomic valuable traits of soft winter wheat varieties under different conditions of the controlled environment, photoperiodic reaction and specificity of the vernalization, description of methods of assessment by the level of genetic and adaptive potential in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Research methods: general scientific - empirical, theoretical, statistical; special - visual to determine the morphotype of plants, to observe the stages of their growth and development; measuring and weighing for plant analysis; molecular genetic identification of DNA markers; mathematical and statistical to determine the level of formation and variability of quantitative traits; cluster to determine the level of total distance of quantitative traits by sowing time; physiological to evaluate winter hardiness. Results: New methods and approaches in evaluation of adaptive traits of soft winter wheat varieties have been applied in the breeding program of the Poltava State Agrarian Academy. It is proposed in the breeding process the use of cluster analysis by the level of the total distance of traits by sowing time and ecological-genetic analysis using a gradient of environment to evaluate the rate of response of varieties. Soft winter wheat varieties have been created: SONATA POLTAVSKAYA, SANZHARA, which acquired property rights for distribution in Ukraine and offered them for use in hybridization as a source material of carriers of agronomic valuable traits, as well as these varieties were transferred and involved in research programs of Plant Production Institute named by V.Ya. Yuryev. Based on the results of the work, we obtained patent No. 99843 (Ukraine) for a utility model "A method for identifying and selecting high-yielding soft winter wheat genotypes in the early stages of breeding". Novelty: For the first time, in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, the levels of adaptability of soft winter wheat varieties of Poltava State Agrarian Academy were determined, which are included in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine and are widespread in production, using a controlled environment, determining winter hardiness, total distances. The characteristics of soft winter wheat varieties are characterized by their adaptive potential and the variability of the quantitative traits of plants of soft winter wheat varieties is determined. The level of realization of their genetic potential for yield was determined, the parameters of grain quality were determined. The winter hardiness was determined by photoperiodic sensitivity and the period of vernalization. Field: agricultural science.