Use of Wild Relatives in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) Breeding Program: Adaptation and Stability in Context of Contrasting Environments in Tunisia

Abstract

In Mediterranean regions, the performance of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) yield often varies due to significant genotype × environment interaction (GEI); therefore, yield stability is an important consideration in breeding programs. The aim of this research was to explore the GEI pattern and yield stability of 24 promising durum wheat lines, selected by ICARDA in several African countries (seven elites, four commercial varieties, and 13 durum wheat wide crosses, generated by hybridization of elites and Triticum dicoccoides Koern. ex Schweinf., Triticum araraticum Jakubz, and Aegilops speltoides Tausch) against a Tunisian local check variety ‘Salim’. Yield assessment was conducted across six environments under rainfed conditions, at the field station of Kef in a semi-arid region during four cropping seasons (2014–2015, 2015–2016, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018) and in a sub-humid region at the station of Beja during two cropping seasons (2015–2016 and 2018–2019). The analysis of variance showed that the environment is the main source of variation of grain yield (72.05%), followed by the interaction environments × genotypes (25.33%) and genotypes (2.62%). The genotype × genotype by environment model (PC) based on grain yield identified a mega-environment including Kef (2016–2017 and 2017–2018) and Beja (2015–2016 and 2018–2019) and elite line 22 as a widely adapted genotype. Combined analysis, computed using the average grain yield of lines and the yield stability wide adaptation index (AWAI), showed that elite lines 9 and 23 (2.41 and 2.34 t·ha−1, respectively), and wild relative-derived lines, 5, 1, and 10 (2.37, 2.31, and 2.28 t·ha−1, respectively) were more stable and better yielding than the national reference (2.21 t·ha−1). This finding supports the good yield potential of wild relative-derived lines. The five selections are recommended to be developed in multi-environments in several regions of Tunisia, especially in semi-arid area.

Dissecting Genotype by Environment Interactions in Moroccan Wheat: An Advanced Biplot and Heatmap Analysis Unveiling Agronomic, Quality Traits, and Genotypic Stability for Tailored Breeding Strategies

“…This approach is vital for grasping how different wheat genotypes respond to varied climatic conditions across Moroccan agro-climatic zones. Such insight is crucial for tailoring breeding programs to enhance wheat resilience and yield potential amidst changing environmental conditions, which is in agreement with the research of Ayed et al [ 31 ] and Megahed et al [ 32 ].…”

The Response of Chromosomally Engineered Durum Wheat-Thinopyrum ponticum Recombinant Lines to the Application of Heat and Water-Deficit Stresses: Effects on Physiological, Biochemical and Yield-Related Traits

“…This member of DW primary gene pool, possessing the same AB genomes as the crop species, and so diploid wild relatives sharing similarity with either genome, allow easy access to their adaptive attributes. Hence, they have been rather extensively and successfully harnessed in DW breeding programs addressing yield stability under abiotic stresses [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

A prioritised inventory of crop wild relatives and wild harvested plants of Tunisia

“…These PGRs can be used to increase food security by improving yield and resistance of the crops to biotic and abiotic factors, and this is particularly true for those wild plant adapted to extreme environmental conditions. This is the case, for example, of the priority CWR related to wheat and barley that could be further investigated in breeding programs aiming at the improvement of yield stability which is strongly affected by environmental factors in the country (Ayed et al 2021) or carrots and cabbages, which represent a valuable part of the economic income, and are represented by a wide variability of wild relatives in Tunisia.…”