Abiotic stresses pose significant challenges to wheat farming, yet exploiting the genetic variability within germplasm collections offers an opportunity to effectively address these challenges. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of key agronomic traits among twenty durum wheat cultivars, with the intention to pinpoint those better suited to semi-arid conditions. Field trials were conducted at the ITGC-FDPS Institute, Setif, Algeria, during the winter season of 2021/22. A completely randomized design was used with three replicates. Statistical analyses revealed significant variation among the genotypes for most of the studied traits, with some cultivars exhibiting a superior performance in a stressful environment. Notably, traits like the number of grains per spike (NGS) and the grain yield (GY) displayed high genotypic coefficients of variation (CVg). Except for membrane thermostability (MT) and biological yield (BY), the majority of the assessed traits exhibited moderate-to-high heritability estimates. Genotypic and phenotypic correlation studies have confirmed the importance of many yield-related traits in the expression of GY. The harvest index (HI) underscored the highest genotypic direct effect on GY, followed closely by spike number (SN), serving as consistent pathways through which most of the measured traits indirectly influenced GY. The cluster analysis categorized the durum wheat cultivars into seven distinct clusters. The largest inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters G3 and G4 (D2 = 6145.86), reflecting maximum dissimilarity between the individuals of these clusters. Hybridizing divergent clusters may benefit future breeding programs aiming to develop potential durum wheat varieties through cross combinations. This study’s findings contribute to sustainable agriculture efforts by facilitating the selection of genotypes with enhanced resilience and productivity, particularly for cultivation in challenging semi-arid regions.

Oxidative stress caused by glyphosate is a complex chemical and physiological phenomenon and develops as a result of overproduction and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study was carried out in vitro at the National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA) Setif, to select the most susceptible durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) under oxidative stress induced by glyphosate herbicide by evaluating chlorophyll content degradation and cell membrane leakage. Genotypes showed significant variations in almost all the studied traits. The chlorophyll loss ratio ranged from 26.42 % for the genotype G5 to 48.75 % for the local variety Boutaleb, glyphosate sensitivity index values were found to be between 0.65-1.2, the advanced line G5 was found to be the most tolerant under oxidative stress with the lowest chlorophyll loss ratio and lowest Glyphosate sensitivity index. Furthermore, the advanced line G4 recorded the highest electrolyte leakage (80.16 %) while G6 showed the lowest estimate (50.77 %). Therefore, advanced lines G5 and G6 appear the most suitable for the growing conditions.

The present study aimed to investigate the extent of variability and relationships between grain yield and morpho-physiological durum wheat traits. Sufficient variability was observed for most characters. Based on stress indices, either widely or specifically, adapted lines were identified. Path analysis pointed out to above ground biomass, harvest index, spike fertility and spike number as yield determinants, suggesting that these traits are of interest in the breeding program. The measured traits were classified within 6 principal components accounting for 79.45 % of the total variation. Breeding lines dispersed along first principal component exhibited substantial differences in performance and stress tolerance abilities. Cluster C3 lines were high yielding and stress tolerant. From this cluster, lines L24 and L14 were scored as the best for 7 and 5 traits out of 17 characters, respectively. Both lines are proposed for release and as parents in crosses to take advantage of their desirable characteristics. The results indicated that physiological traits were unrelated to each other and to morphological traits making difficult the concomitant selection for yield and stress tolerance driven by these traits. Complexes crosses, between parents carefully chosen for these specific characteristics, are necessary to enhance favorable genetic linkage and to generate new basic segregating populations with high genetic variability for these traits.

This experiment was conducted at the Field Crops Institute, Agricultural Experimental Station of Setif (ITGC-AES), Eastern semi-arid areas of Algeria, during two successive cropping seasons, 2010/11 and 2011/12. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of yield and yield-related traits and determine the direct and indirect effects of yield-related traits on grain yield. The plant materials consisted of 330 F3 and 174 F4 durum wheat lines along with their four parents and one control cultivar, which were evaluated under rainfed conditions in a semi-arid region. Data on nine agronomic traits were recorded. Sufficient genetic variability was observed among wheat traits as indicated by the minimum and maximum mean values and confirmed by the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation that took intermediate and high estimates for most of the traits evaluated both in F3 and F4 generations. A high heritability (>60%) was observed for almost all the traits studied indicating the involvement of the additive action of genes in their genetic determinism. Results of stepwise regression and path analysis showed that biological yield, harvest index and number of spikes were the most determinant components of grain yield, exhibiting high positive direct effects (0.697, 0.683 and 0.293 in F3 vs 0.695, 0.205 and 0.560 in F4, respectively) coupled with positive and significant correlations (r=0.696*, r=0.778* and r=0.127* in F3 vs r=0.686*, r=0.628* and r=0.491* in F4, respectively) with this trait. These three yield-contributing traits can be considered as suitable indirect selection criteria to improve grain yield in the subsequent generation of the wheat breeding program.

Plant height, straw mass and flag leaf area are recognized by physiologists as morphological markers of drought stress tolerance. Developing varieties intended for arid and semi-arid zones need to select for these traits. Understanding the genetic control of a given trait helps breeder to handle the segregating populations under study in a more efficient and consistent manner by choosing the best breeding method available to realize significant genetic advance. For this purpose, six generations: parents, F1, F2, BC1, BC2, derived from MBB x ‘Gaviota’ durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cross were grown to investigate the nature of gene action involved in the inheritance pattern of the three traits. The results indicated that the six-parameter model fitted the best the data related to the variability present in the generation means of the studied traits. Generation mean analysis indicated that non-allelic interactions were important factors controlling the expression of these characters with complementary type of gene action governing FLA and STW inheritance. High heritability estimates, moderate to high expected responses to selection, significant genetic correlations with grain yield and greater role of non-additive effects in controlling the inheritance of the three studied traits suggested that breeding methods exploiting both fixable and non-fixable components be applied to break unfavorable linkage and to accumulate useful genes in the base population, followed by mono-trait or index based selection in late advanced generations.

A field experiment was conducted during the 2017/18 cropping season at the Field Crop Agricultural Experimental Station Institute of Setif, Algeria. The study aimed to investigate the performance and variability of agro-morphological traits present in a set of local durum wheat varieties, registered during the 1950–2017 period and to estimate grain increase and to identify concurrent trait changes accompanying yield increase. The results indicated ample variation for the measured traits. Multivariate analysis grouped the assessed varieties into: high vs low grain yield, tall, late vs early and dwarf and high fertility, low kernel weight vs low fertility, high kernel weight varieties. Post-green revolution varieties performed significantly more than traditional varieties in terms of grain yield, yield components and harvest index. Local varieties were taller, late to head and had high straw yield. Grain yield genetic progress over time was estimated to be equal to 11.56kg/ha/year. Differences between local and recently released varieties are ascribed to Rht genes. To make the best use of desirable characteristics from local and modern varieties, it is suggested to further investigate the variation of dwarfing genes in the tested plant material. This allows to design a breeding program promoting the development of new germplasm more adapted to rain-fed south Mediterranean environments, through selection for dwarfing genes, like Rht24 and Rht8, which express minor effects on the desirable traits in low yield environment.

Ponte Academic JournalDec 2020, Volume 76, Issue 12 STUDY OF DIRECT RESPONSE AND RELATED TO THE EARLY SELECTION OF DURUM WHEAT (TRITICUM DURUM DESF.) GENOTYPES GROWING UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONSAuthor(s): Abdelmalek Oulmi ,Ali Guendouz, Nadjim Semcheddine, Benalia Frih, Noureddine Laadel, Abdelhamid Adjabi, Amar BenmahammedJ. Ponte - Dec 2020 - Volume 76 - Issue 12 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2020.12.13 Abstract:This study which was leaded in agricultural experimental station of technical field crops institute (TFCI), (ITGC in French) of Setif, East Algeria. The objective of this study is to evaluate the direct response and related to two F4 and F5 generations for the early selection of three hybrids viz., Ofanto/MBB, Ofanto/Waha, and Ofanto/Mrb5 of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) growing under semi-arid conditions. Analysis of variance shows the presence of genetic changes for all measured traits in parents. Direct and indirect early selection of crossbreeds of these three advanced generations shows that the same character taken as a selection criterion gives increased effectiveness for some traits in crossing without other. By comparison between the observed increases in grain yield, the highest increases in gain yield were chosen by selection on the basis of grain and economic yield, number of ears and indexes (DSI, SWI). The following up of response of lines with high grain yield indicates (G x E) interaction for most lines. Among these three hybrids, Ofanto/MBB combined most desirable characters (Production, resistance etc.) by lowering of canopy temperature (CT) and increasing of grain yield. Linear regression analysis (R2) shows a highly significant correlation between grain and economic yield (R2>0,900) and the number of spikes (R2>0,670), contrariwise no correlation between productive traits and those of resistance. The results of this study proved that the advanced line Ofanto/MBB has combined more desirable traits (Productivity and resistance, ext.) by lowering of a canopy temperature (CT) and increasing of grain yield. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

This work reports on the characterization of 58 old and modern durum wheat grown under south Mediterranean conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design at two locations (ITGC-AES of Setif and Khroub, Algeria) and during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 cropping seasons. The results indicated that, averaged across seasons and locations, modern varieties outperformed the old ones in terms of grain yield, spike number, spike weight, number of kernels per square meter, harvest index, spike fertility and stay green. Old varieties outperformed the modern ones in terms of straw yield, lateness, tallness and flag leaf area. Modern varieties were stress tolerant and more responsive to improved growth conditions, showing agronomic stability type. Old varieties were characterized by a minimal responsiveness to improved environmental conditions, stress tolerance, and biological stability type. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and path analyses indicated that, in both sources of germoplasm, the strong influence of biomass, spike number, spike fertility and harvest index on grain yield. Physiological traits had negligible direct effects and small indirect effects via biomass, spike number and harvest index. Principal component analysis revealed that the old varieties are genetically far from the improved ones suggesting that old varieties represent an important gene pool for important traits among which plant height and straw yield. Differences between both sources of germoplasm are suggested to be used usefully in breeding to enhance yield potential, stability and resilience to changing climate of the future varieties.

Genetic parameters such as leaf relative water content, leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, above-ground biomass, harvest index, grain yield, and grain yield components of Bousselam/Mrb5 durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cross were estimated based on generation means analysis. A, B, C, and D scaling and Chi-square (χ2) tests revealed the inadequacy of the simple additive-dominance model. This result suggests the presence of digenic epistasis for most studied traits; the duplicate epistasis was present for relative water content, above-ground biomass, and grain yield; and complementary epistasis was observed for chlorophyll content. Significant genotypic correlation coefficients appeared among grain yield, relative water content, and above-ground biomass. This suggests useful indirect selection criteria to improve simultaneously these traits, which showed significant heritability. It can be concluded that the traits investigated show a complex genetic behavior, which implies that early selection would be less efficient; therefore, it is recommended delaying the selection to advanced generations to benefit from the reduction of non-fixable genetic variation and exploit transgressive segregators due to the significant interaction additivity×additivity (i) of the gene and duplicated epistasis.

The reuse of urban effluents to irrigate the soils of peri-urban grasslands in the vicinity of the town of Setif (northeastern Algeria) is an old and widespread practice. In this context, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the irrigation with urban effluents on the biological and chemical behavior of soils. Effluents analysis showed significant organic and particulate pollution, the latter contributed to earthworm abundance and increased the richness of irrigated soils with nutrients. The analysis of turricules revealed the role of earthworms through the activity of bioturbation in the increase of the rate of organic matter as well as in the bioavailability of the nutrients of the irrigated soils. In space, permanent vegetation cover has played an important role as a biofilter. This was confirmed by the inter-site differences recorded through the measured variables particularly organic ones.

Valorization of Natural Biological Resources Laboratory (VNBR Lab), Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Ferhat Abbas Setif-1, Setif, 19000, Algeria.

This research was conducted to screen and analyse the variability within twenty F 3 populations of bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L .) generated by Line x Tester mating design. The results indicated the presence of sufficient variability within and between F 3 populations for the eight measured variables, which represent plant phenology, physiology, yield and yield components. Different populations have been identified to improve the measured variables separately. The number of spikes appeared to be the most important determinant of grain yield. PCA and cluster analyses indicated that the Acsad1069/El Wifak and Acsad1135/Hidhab, with a relatively high grain yield,  aboveground biomass and 1000 grains weight, are the best F 3 populations to improve the productivity. However, Acsad899/Rmada and Acsad1135/Rmada populations were earlier and had a low number of spikes. These populations had also favorable genes for heat tolerance. Keywords : Triticum aestivum L .; Variability; Selection; Tolerance; Yield.

This work was carried out at the Field Crop Institute-Agricultural Experimental Station of Setif (Algeria) during the 2008/2009 cropping season. The objective was to evaluate some pheno-morpho-physiological and agronomic traits in five durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties and F2 segregating lines. The results indicate the presence of a good amount of variability for the measured traits. Low relationships between wheat productivity and the physiological traits is found, which makes them less effective as selection criteria in the case of this study. However, the above-ground biomass measured at maturity stage seems to be the determinant factor in grain yield expression. High heritability associated with high coefficients of phenotypic and genotypic variation values, along with high genetic gain are recorded for the above-ground biomass and spikes weight per plant, suggesting that early selection based on these traits would be effective to improve the stress tolerance and enhance the productivity of the F2 studied populations.

In plant breeding, in semi-arid areas of high plain s of Algeria, where yields are very irregular from ne year to another and from one locality to another, the selection tries to identify cultiva rs with high potential of yield associated with tol erance to stress. The present contribution compares the tolerance indexes as regards the effec ts of physiological trait selection upon the grain yield potential of wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) assessed during six consecutive cropping sea sons (1997/1998 to 1998/2003) under semi-arid condi ti s. The comparative study of statistics of stress tolerance indicates that the i nd xes form two divergent groups, one representing the tolerance related to the yield potential and the other containing the indexes related to per formance under stress. Index of genotypic superiori ty (P), geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity index (MP) and index of to lerance to stress (ITS) identify the class A while drought susceptibility index (S), yield stability index (YSI) and tolerance index (TOL) ide ntify the cultivars of the class C and relative yie ld (RY), yield index (YI) and harmonic mean productivity (HMP) identify the cultivars of C lass B and D. Among the cultivars tested, Cyprus an d Heider /Martes//Huevos de Oro (H/M//O) are identified as being tolerant and effic ient in all environments tested. Waha and Adamillo/ Duilio//Simeto (A/D//S) are tolerant and efficient solely in non-stress environments. Wh ereas Massara 1 and Belikh2 are performing in stress environments. MBB, Simeto and Beliouni are characterized by a low yield potential in all environments. In such conditions, which are p sent in this study, it is suggested to use of the following indexes: P, MP, GMP or ITS com bining tolerance and yield performance.

The experiment was conducted during three growing seasons and two planting dates. The cultivation site is placed at the ITGC Setif characterized by a semi-arid environment. The objective of the study is the analysis of phenotypic variability of traits measured for 15 varieties of durum wheat, through the average effects, to decline the ways, characters and varieties could play in favour of performance under the constraining semi-arid conditions. The year effect indicates that given the difficulty of predicting the performance enabled by years, it then makes sense to go straight for this performance within genotypes. Analysis of the effect genotype highlights characters connected to performance and is the Setifis variety that lends itself well. For the effect of sowing date, it is that early sowing promotes a better expression of the characteristics compared to late sowing.

Three endemic plants rhizosphere (Astragalus gombo Coss. & Dur., Daucus sahariensis Murb., Ononis angustissima Lam.), were used for actinomycetes isolation. Ninety-three (93) isolates have been screened to evaluate their antagonistic properties against phytopathogenic microorganisms and to determine their biocontrol properties against Fusarium culmorum, especially responsible for several cereal diseases like font's seedlings, rust, and burn of ears. Four (04) isolates (D2, D5, D8, and AST1) have been in vitro tested to determine PGPR effect and biocontrol characters of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Hidhab (HD) variety cultivated in the Murashigue and Skoog (MS) culture medium. The aim of this study is the evaluation of antagonistic isolates of pathogenic fungi F. culmorum, without and within commercial fungicide (Tebuconazole, 60 g/l) solution. Our results showed clearly that these isolates have a significant effect on seed germination and seedling growth. However, results argue that these actinomycetes isolates show a very interesting activity compared to the commercial fungicide. As a result, these bacteria isolates can be used as biocontrol agents against Fusarium wilt disease of wheat, which have a beneficial effect on growth parameters.