UNIVERSAL TYPE OF COMPETITIVE, ADAPTIVE WHEAT VARIETY PROVANS

Abstract

A new wheat variety Provans has been developed for cultivation in the conditions of the North Caucasus, Lower Volga and Central Chernozem regions. The new genotype was isolated by the method of continuous purposeful individual selection from a hybrid
population (Ermak x Nastya). Despite the differences in meteorological conditions during the
years of research, the new variety always had a higher grain yield than the standard variety.
On average, during three years of the study, its yield was 9,51 t/ha, which is higher than the
standard variety Grom by 1,61 t/ha. According to the main elements of the grain yield structure (the number of grains in the ear, the weight of the grain in ear and thousand kernel
weight), the new variety significantly exceeded the standard variety Grom. As for the duration
of the growing season, Provans belongs to mid-season varieties. In terms of plant height (84
cm), it is a semi-dwarf with lodging tolerance. It is characterized by an erect, strong, elastic
stem. The variety is characterized by good grain quality. In terms of protein and gluten content in the grain, flour strength, performance and baking quality, it is as good as the standard
variety Grom, which, according to the central technological laboratory for quality in Moscow,
is included in the list of valuable wheat of the Russian Federation. Provans had high level of
winter hardiness and was assessed as excellent in the field conditions. According to the degree of frost tolerance (70,4%), the number of live plants after freezing in environmental
chamber significantly exceeded the standard (56,0%), which was a frost tolerant variety and
was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in the Lower Volga region,
where frost tolerance played a crucial role during the overwintering of wheat. According to
the degree of drought tolerance, the new genotype is not inferior to the drought tolerant variety Grom. In terms of resistance to shedding and germination of grain on the root, it significantly exceeds. Provans is characterized by high field resistance to major diseases (powdery
mildew, various types of rust, kernel smut, Septoria spot, tan spot, fusarium, barley yellow
dwarf virus) that affect winter wheat in the recommended cultivation regions. The maximum
affection of these diseases in the years of its research ranged from 0%, insignificant “traces”,
to 10 %. The standard variety Grom had much lower immunity to diseases, and, the damage
of many diseases to its plants by pathogens reached 20-40 %. Provans should be attributed to
resource-saving varieties, since its crops do not need to use an expensive chemical method to
combat pathogens, or to be used in exceptional cases for prevention measure.