Adaptability of bread wheat under mediterranean conditions as influenced by its vegetative cycle

Abstract

This study was conducted to verify the adaptability of bread wheat genotypes with different vegetative cycles to Mediterranean conditions in terms of their productivity. Due to the very irregular rainfall in autumn, which conditions sowing date, the knowledge of the performance of the wheat varieties used with regard to different sowing dates is of extreme importance for a successful cereal production under Mediterranean conditions.

Fifteen wheat bread genotypes were sown at different dates during autumn over a period of five years. The experimental layout was a randomized block design for sowing dates with a split for the different genotypes and four replications.

The results indicate that wheat genotypes with a cycle duration of 125 to 145 days or 1350 to 1450 days degree (d °C) between seeding and ear emergence provide a good adaptation to Mediterranean conditions and consequently a high production potential. Thus, varieties with the above mentioned cycle like the variety Nabão, are adapted to the irregular Mediterranean rainfall patterns in autumn and able to provide acceptable yields even for sowing dates that vary between the end of October until the end of November.