CHARACTERIZATION OF WHEAT (Triticum spp.) VARIETIES THROUGH SEED, SEEDLING AND PLANT MORPHOLOGY AND CHEMICAL TESTS
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Date
2015-06
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jau,junagdh
Abstract
An experiment was carried out at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, to characterize 28 wheat varieties of different species (17 of Triticum aestivum, 9 of Triticum durum and 2 of Triticum dicoccum) released for general cultivation in Gujarat at state level as well as at the National level in Central India based on the morphological characters (seed, plant and seedling) and chemical tests. Twenty eight wheat varieties were grouped into different groups based on 7 seed morphological characters, 24 plant characters, 4 seedling characters and 4 chemical tests.
Based on the seed colour, the varieties were grouped into amber (25), white (1) and red (2). On the basis of seed shape, wheat varieties were separated into round (2) ovate (7), oblong (12) and elliptical (7). On the basis of seed size, varieties were grouped into medium seed size (5), bold seed size (15) and very bold seed size (8). On the basis of seed hardness, varieties were grouped into soft (1), semi-hard (7) and hard (20). Based on the seed germ width, varieties were grouped into medium (15), wide (9) and narrow (4) seed germ width types. The varieties were grouped based on the seed crease into three groups, as medium (11), shallow (12) and deep (5) grain crease types. Based on the brush hair length, wheat varieties were grouped as short (17), medium (7) and long (4) brush hair length types.
The varieties were grouped based on the plant growth habit into three groups viz., erect (8), semi-erect (17), intermediate (2) and semi-spreading (1) types, while based on the plant foliage colour, the varieties were grouped into light green (5), green (18) and dark green (5). Based on the variation in the plant height excluding awns, 7 varieties were grouped as very short, 19 as short and 2 as medium. All the varieties studied were having plant waxiness except DDK 1025 and DDK 1029.
Plant flag leaf attitude was erect, semi erect, semi curved and recurved in 8, 13, 2 and 5 varieties, respectively. Flag leaf anthocyanin colouration of auricles was present in 6 varieties and absent in 22 varieties. Based on flag leaf hairs on auricle, the varieties were grouped as presence (12) and absence (16) types. Based on the flag leaf length, the varieties were grouped into three groups as short (1), medium (15) and long (12). Based on the flag leaf width, the varieties were grouped as narrow (16) and medium (12). The wheat varieties were grouped based on flag leaf waxiness of sheath into four categories namely very weak (2), weak (4), medium (13) and strong (9). Based on the flag leaf waxiness of blade, varieties were grouped into very weak (11), weak (6), medium (9) and strong (2).
Based on the days to ear emergence, the varieties were grouped into very early (4), early (11), medium (10) and late (3). Ear length varied among the varieties and was grouped into short (9) and medium (19). Based on ear waxiness, varieties were grouped as very weak (8), weak (7), medium (7) and strong (6) types. Based on the ear colour, varieties were grouped as dull white (26) and light brown (2) types. Based on the ear shape in profile, the varieties were grouped into tapering (13), parallel sided (13) and club shaped (2). The varieties were categorized based on the ear density into lax (2), medium (10), dense (10) and very dense (6) types.
All the varieties were having awns. The varieties were grouped based on the awn colour into three group namely dull white (24), light brown (2) and black (2) colour types. Based on the awns attitude, varieties were grouped into spreading (13), medium (8) and oppressed (7) types. Based on awn length, varieties were grouped into short (5), medium (7), long (6) and very long (10).
The varieties were classified on the basis of peduncle waxiness into four groups viz., very weak (5), weak (3), medium (9) and strong (11) waxiness types. Based on the peduncle attitude, all twenty eight varieties were grouped into straight (16), bent (9) and crooked (3) attitude types. Based on variation in the peduncle length, varieties were grouped into two categories as short (19) and medium (9) varieties.
Coleoptile anthocyanin colouration was absent in all the tested varieties. Seedling length varied significantly among the twenty eight varieties. Based on seedling vigour index, varieties were categorized into low group types.
The seeds were subjected to phenol, peroxidase, NaOH and KOH test for differentiating the varieties. Based on the seed colouration with phenol, varieties were grouped into absent (6), light brown (9), brown (5) and dark brown (8) in colour. Based on the colour of the solution due to peroxidase activity, varieties were grouped into four categories viz., absent (4), light brown (11), brown (8), and dark brown (5) coloured types. Based on the colour of the seed coat due to NaOH solution, the varieties were grouped into straw coloured (26) and orange (2) in colour reaction. However, the KOH test did not differentiate any wheat varieties studied. All the varieties were negative (no colour to the solution) in response.
The assessment of genetic purity is an important criterion in seed production programme. Therefore, simple and reliable techniques need to be developed for genetic purity assessment and varietal characterization. The identified morphological characteristics of wheat varieties could be utilized in DUS testing, seed production programme and genetic purity testing. The results of chemical tests are useful in identifying and grouping of wheat varieties and also in genetic purity testing.
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SEED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY