Gene Resources of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with Changed Spike Morphology and their Utilisation

Selected lines of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) differing in spike morphotype were evaluated for responses to increasing nitrogen doses and pesticides. The examined collection consisted of lines with long glumes (LG) transferred from T. polonicum L. and lines with multirow spike (MRS) with the presence of supernumerary spikelets. These lines were compared with current wheat cultivars with normal spike (NS). Four agronomic practices were used: K0 - no fungicides and growth regulators, and no nitrogen fertilisation; F0, F100, F200 - fungicides and growth regulators with nitrogen doses 0, 100 and 200 kg. ha(-1). Lines with LG are considered perspective for breeding use because they had better yield increases in response to increasing nitrogen doses as compared to NS. Lines with MRS produced lower yields than lines with NS and LG, but their grain had higher content of N-substances. LG could increase spike assimilation capacity. MRS is characterised by high potential formation of spikelets and grain number. Its practical use will need much breeding effort.