Breeders are focused on developing high-yielding genotypes that can grow in semi-arid regions under water stress. A field experiment was conducted during the 2020 to 2021 cropping season at the experimental field of ITGC, Setif. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of durum wheat genotypes for agronomic traits growing under semi-arid conditions. The 10 genotypes evaluated were grown in a randomized block with three replications. Analysis of variance showed that the genotype effect was significant for most parameters studied. The best grain yield was recorded for genotypes G3 (3.52 t ha-1) G2 (3.48 t ha-1), and G5 (2.89 t ha-1); thus, they maintained the highest water content (81.09, 84.95, and 84.34%, respectively) and lower temperatures under these conditions. Simple linear regression showed that grain yield correlated positively with the number of spikes, and the number of grains per spike. The principal component (PC) analysis classified both genotypes G2 and G3 as high grain yielding genotypes; by contrast, genotypes Jupare C 2001, Bouatleb, and G1 were low-yielding.

In arid and semi-arid areas, drought is an important abiotic factor that limits Durum wheat production. Identifying genotypes tolerant to drought is a challenge for plant breeders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of direct and indirect selection on Durum wheat under rain-fed conditions in the high plains of Sétif, Algeria. Four parental varieties (Ofanto, MBB, Mrb5, Waha), three crosses (Ofanto/MBB, Ofanto/Mrb5, Ofanto/Waha) representing the F5, F6, and F7 populations, and one cultivar (Bousselm, control) were cultivated. Pheno-morpho-physiological traits were measured at the heading stage and yield and its components at grain maturity. Our results showed that the response to direct selection was reflected in a significant increase in grain yield, economic yield, and number of spikes, suggesting that grain yield may be improved using one of these characteristics as the selection criterion. Selection by canopy temperature was affected by a significant decrease in the drought susceptibility index (-11.3 %), making it possible to obtain abiotic stress-resistant lines. The study of the relationships between F5, F6, and F7 populations has shown that grain yield, economic yield, and plant height correlate with each generation, indicating no effect of genotype-environment interaction, unlike others. Late selection revealed eight meaningful lines (L1, L8, L14, L28, L32, L35, L36, and L40) in the selection process, maintaining high production throughout different cropping seasons. These successful lines were selected based on traits related to productivity: Gr.YLD, Ec.YLD, NS. These characters provide the same information as breeding programs, according to our results.

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.

Oxidative stress induced by glyphosate is a complex phenomenon caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in plants cells. The present research was carried out at the field crops institute, Agricultural Experimental Station of Setif (ITGC-AES), to assess the response of some durum wheat (Triticum Durum Desf.) lines exposed to oxidative stress induced by glyphosate herbicide. In the heading stage, a solution of 5 Mm of glyphosate was sprayed on flag leaves, and each measurement was taken 48 hours after the glyphosate application. Lipid peroxidation, free proline and soluble sugars were determined. The results indicated that oxidative stress increased the content of lipid peroxidation, proline, and soluble sugars in flag leaves. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes tested, the increase in the level of lipid peroxidation is much higher in advanced lines G5 and G3, in which lipid peroxidation and membrane damage are greater. Oxidative damage also increased the proline content in lines G3 and G4, and soluble sugars in line G5, which were showing a high tolerance to the oxidative stress induced.

The in vitro and growth chamber, tests were conducted in order to assess the effects of B. amyloliquefaciens B18 and B. subtilis S8 strains each alone and in combination with tebuconazole against F. culmorum (FC) isolate responsible of Fusarium crown rot (FCR) in durum wheat. The in vitro growth of B18 and S8 strains was unaffected by 30 µg.mL-1 tebuconazole. The Bacillus strains (at 106 CFU.mL-1) and tebuconazole, each alone, reduced the mycelial growth, this effect was significantly improved when they were combined (inhibition of more than 92 %). In growth chamber experiments, efficacy against FCR was significantly higher when integrating Bacillus strains and tebuconazole than by either alone; control efficacy of tebuconazole at 30 µg.mL-1 in combination with S8 and B18 strains reached 90.91 and 95.45 %, respectively. The obtained results indicated that combination of tebuconazole with the biocontrol agents B18 and S8 synergistically improved control efficiency of the fungicide against FCR of wheat.

The region of Setif is rich in wetlands which represent habitats populated by a considerable ornithological biodiversity.This has an economic and ecological importance.In this study we tried to make an inventory of aquatic birds and make an analysis of the ornithological fauna of the wetlands prospected in the Setif area.This allowed us to draw up an inventory representing the species collected during the year 2019-2020.The results made it possible to highlight the presence of showing the species status of 29,652 individuals of waterbirds listed in 32 species and 12 families.The most representative of which are Anatidae, Charadriidae and Scolopacidae and the Grebes, more than 3 species for each family.There is a diversity of diet, habitat and lifestyle.Our study allowed us to find that in this study area there is a dominance Trophic category polyphagous by 16 species on consumers of invertebrates represented by 8 species.For only 1 species for the other trophic category.

Abstract. The present study was carried out to select adapted and stable durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes for grain yield and thousand kernel weight using various stability parameters. Based on the graphical distributions between the parametric indices (Wricke’s ecovalence stability index (Wi²), environmental coefficient of variance (CVi), mean variance component (θᵢ)) and the mean grain yield of tested genotypes, the suitable genotype for the tested conditions was Mexicali 75. Further, the cultivars Oued Zenati and Bousselem were the most adapted with the highest TKW. With non-parametric index was classified genotype Mexicali 75 as the most stable with high grain yield. According to PCA analysis the genotype Altar 84 was classified in dynamic stability group with the highest grain yield in addition, cultivars Bousselem and Oued Zenati were classified in dynamic concept with the highest thousand kernel weight. The results of this study confirmed that the parametric and non-parametric methods are the suitable tools to identify the most stable durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) under semi-arid conditions.

Abstract. The present study was carried out at the experimental site of the Agricultural Research Station of the Technical Institute for Field Crops (ITGC) in Setif province, where some plant traits indicators such as grain yield, above-ground biomass, canopy temperature, and chlorophyll content were evaluated in a later generation (F8) of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). The results showed that some lines from the later generation (F8) outperformed the crossed parents in all measured traits, which reflects the breadth of the genetic base that members of the eighth generation integrate and illustrates the possibility of isolating some superior lines with high productivity and resistance to abiotic stresses. Among all experimented lines, both lines L10 and L46 outperformed in grain yield (GY), canopy temperature (CT) and above-ground biomass (BM). The study of phenotypic correlations revealed the presence of a significantly negative relationship between canopy temperature and grain yield (r = - 0.293), as well as for canopy temperature and above-ground biomass (r = - 0.376) confirming that lines grown at low temperature are more productive in grain yield and biomass. These correlations are very important in plant breeding programs for improving wheat production as they indicate that new superior lines can be discriminated and isolated more efficiently from the crossed parents in terms of resistance to abiotic stresses well present in the semi-arid regions.

This study was conducted at Setif Agricultural Experimental Station in 2017−2018 crop season, the experimental material used in this study consisted of 5 cultivars (Triticum durum Desf.) based on their difference between early and late cultivation. The genotypes tested were sowing in in a random block design with three replications, each plot consisted of 2 rows of 2.5 m long spaced of 20 cm. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the choice of sowing date on grain yield, these components as well as some morpho-phenological traits in order to have an idea on the best sowing date. Two-way analysis of variance showed that the effect of sowing date was significant (p<0.001−0.05) with the variables above ground biomass (BIO), spike weight (SW), Thousand kernels weight (TKW), Flag leaf area (LA), plant height (PH), number of days to heading (DH) and canopy temperature (CT), this effect caused the decrease of major parameters studied and mainly grain yield (GY), accompanied by decrease of BIO, SW, TKW, relative Water contents RWC, LA, PH and DH. Ofanto is shown to be the most suitable genotype for the late sowing date (January). The correlation analysis show that GY was significantly, strongly and positively correlated (p<0.001) under both sowing date with BIO and SW. CT was negatively correlated with GY, BIO, SW and HI (p<0.05) who suggest that our plants underwent water stress during the second sowing date.

Background: This study was conducted during the 2020/2021 cropping season at Setif Agricultural Experimental Station, it aims to assess the efficiency of using numerical image analysis (NIA) in the selection of durum wheat genotypes in semi-arid areas. Methods: The genetic materials used in this study consist of 11 advanced lines and 4 genotypes of which 3 are local landraces used as control to evaluate their performance, the genotypes tested were sown in a randomized block design (RDB) with three replications. each plot consisted of 6 lines of 10 m long spaced of 0.2 m witdth makes 12 m2 as plot area. Result: Analysis of variance showed that all the parameters measured numerically (senescence and total reflectance) had a very high genotypic significance. The chlorophyll content at full heading showed a very highly significant genotypic effect. Thousand kernels weight, number of spikes per meter square, number of days to heading and plant height had a significant genotypic effect. The correlation study showed that all senescence parameters were significantly correlated. A significant and negative correlation was observed between chlorophyll contents; average of velocity and total reflectance. Grain yield was highly and significantly correlated with thousand kernels weight and number of spikes per meter square. Number of spikes per meter square was significantly and positively correlated with average of velocity and negatively correlated with sum of temperatures at mid-senescence. Number of days to heading was significantly and negatively correlated with senescence average and maximum of senescence average. A significant correlation was observed between plant height and sum of temperatures at mid-senescence.

Abstract. The aim of this study was to test the adaptability of seven (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes grown under semi-arid conditions. The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Station of Setif (Algeria), in a design of random blocks with three replications; the plant material used in this study consisted of seven genotypes (Triticum durum Desf.). At maturity, the following parameters were measured: grain yield; economic yield; above ground biomass; number of spikes per meter square; number of grain per spike; harvest index; thousand kernel weight and plant height. Number of days to heading was accounted from sown date. ANOVA showed that genotype and crop season effect were highly significant with all traits studied. MBB and Boussellem genotypes were the most suitable genotypes; they had good ranking under both crop seasons according to their results for all traits studied. 2016/2017 was the best crop season; it recorded the best values of grain yield and the majority of the traits studied. The interaction genotype X crop season was highly significant for all traits studied.The correlations among traits under both crop season showed that grain yield was significantly correlated with economic yield and number of grains per spike. A high significant correlation was observed between economic yield and above ground biomass under both crop seasons. Number of days to heading was significantly correlated with plant height under both crop seasons.

: Our study aim to test the influence of RGB reflectance and chlorophyll content on grain fill and grain yield of 15 durum wheat cultivars sown under semi-arid conditions. the evolution of chlorophyll content during three stages showed a stability during the heading stage, the chlorophyll content begins at this degradation during grain filling. Boutaleb genotype which was the best yielding genotype was characterized by low values ​​of RGB reflectance and high values ​​of majority of grain filling parameters and thousand kernels weight. Grain filling follows a sigmoid curve. Chlorophyll content was positively correlated with reflectance under the green band and negatively with both Red and Blue bands. A positive correlation was recorded between thousand kernel weight and grain yield, maximum grain dry weight and grain filling duration. The duration of the grain filling was positively influenced by the maximum dry weight of the grain and negatively by the grain filling ratio, the grain filling ratio was positively affected by reflectance at blue band. The principal component analysis separated the cultivars considered into 3 principal components, the absorption/reflectance component, the profitability component and the component of grain filling rate to which the local landrace Boutaleb belongs in terms of grain yield.

Background: We aim to determine the effects of RGB reflectance index and chlorophyll contents on yielding of 15 durum wheat genotypes growing under semi-arid conditions. Methods: The genotypes tested were sown in a random block design with three replications.The following traits were measured from the head, number of days to heading, RGB reflectance index by numerical images analysis of flag leaves and using Mesurim Pro (version 2.8) software and Chlorophyll contents. Grain yield, thousand kernels weight, number of spikes per meter square, and plant height were measured at maturity. Result: ANOVA showed that genotype effect significant for all traits. The local landrace Boutaleb witch was the best yielding genotype registered a low red reflectance index and an average green reflectance index, blue reflectance index and chlorophyll contents. The study of the correlations reveled that chlorophyll contents was significantly and negatively correlated with reflectance index at red and blue bands and very significantly and positively correlated with reflectance index at green band. PCA showed thatgrain yield was affected by number of spike per mete square, a negative relation was observed between chlorophyll contents and RGB reflectance index.

This experiment was carried out at Setif Agricultural Experimental Station in Algeria during 2017–2018 crop season using five cultivars (Triticum durum Desf.) to determine differences in the relationship between (CT and drought resistance indices values based on their difference in yielding under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions and sown in a random block design with three replications. Our study aim to determine differences in the relationship between CT and drought resistance indices values and grain yield GY under both conditions to evaluate the effect of canopy temperature in drought tolerance of durum wheat. Five durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes were studied based on their difference in yielding under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in conception of a random block design with three replications. The following measurements were applied: GY, CT canopy cover temperature depression CTD and seven drought tolerance indices (HM-SSI-GMP-STI-YSI-MP-TOL). ANOVA showed that genotype effect and irrigation regime effect were highly and significantly on CT and CTD under both stressed (s) and watered (i) conditions. The interaction Genotype×irrigation regime was significant for CT and CTD. PCA showed that CTDs was related with HM, GMP, STI, and MP in indication of drought tolerance, where CTDi was related with TOL and SSI in indication of drought sensitivity. A negative correlation showed between CT and CTD, higher values ​​of CT compared to environmental temperature implies negative values ​​of CTD which indicates drought sensitivity; on the other hand, CT values ​​lower than environmental temperature implies positive CTD values ​​indicating drought tolerance.

The aim of this study was to test the behavior of 5 genotypes cultivated in normal and irrigated conditions with regard to drought stress. We used seven indices of tolerance and resistance to drought stress. Analyze of variance showed that the geometric mean productivity, mean productivity, stress tolerance index, yield stability index, stress sensitivity tolerance and tolerance intensity were effective in judging tolerance to water stress, Boussellem and Oum Rabie was the best at water stress resistance genotypes. Correlation analysis showed that GMP is both an indicator of high performance under both conditions and of resistance to stress (r=0.56* in a stress state and r=0.82*** in a non-stress state) . Boussellem and Oum Rabie were the strongest in yield and the most adapted to water stress thanks to their values ​​for this index (8.84 and 9.06 respectively). SSI testified to the high yield in non-stress condition (r=0.82***), therefore Ofanto was a good cultivar in non-stess condition. PCA classified the genotypes Bousselem and Oum Rabie on the first component which combined the performance in yield under both conditions with the mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, and stress tolerance index. In conclusion, the Oum Rabie and Bousselem genotypes were the best performing under both conditions and the best adapted to drought stress, while Ofanto was a good cultivar in non-stress conditions. MP, GMP and STI indices was the best to judge the adaptability of our genotypes to drought stress.

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.

The aim of this study was to know the relation between the grain yield and its components in order to identify the most important attributes in grain yield prediction which would serve as a criterion for the selection of genotypes growing under semi-arid conditions. Fifteen genotypes were studied composed of 11 advanced lines, 03 local landraces and 01 introduced genotype used as controls. Analysis of variance, simple linear correlation multiple linear regression, stepwise multiple linear regression, path analysis, principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were used to evaluate six traits including grain yield, plant height, days to heading, number of grains spike-1, number of spikes m-2 and thousand kernels weight. Analysis of variance showed that genotype effect was significant for the majority of traits studied (p=0.001), advanced line G10 was shown to be most performing (4.723 t ha-1). Simple linear regression revealed that the number of grains spike-1, number of spikes m-2 and thousand kernels weight contributed significantly in grain yield changes (R2=43, 17%). Path analysis showed that the number of grains spike-1, number of spikes m-2 and thousand kernels weight had a direct and significant effect on grain yield. Principal component analysis showed that thousand kernels weight and negative days to heading were most important factors traits in grain yield. According to these results number of grains spike-1 and thousand kernels weight were crucial for the majority of static analysis.

Notre objectif est de présenter une synthèse sur l’étude de la stabilité du rendement de dix variétés de blé dur expérimentées pendant quatre ans (2009-2013) dans la région semi-aride de Sétif. Nous utilisons au cours de cette étude trois indices de stabilité paramétriques et non paramétriques pour évaluer les performances des dix génotypes testés. L’étude des indices paramétrique de stabilité, notamment l'écovalence de Wricke (Wi²) a montré que les génotypes Mexicali75 (4.23) et Hoggar (11.07) sont considérés comme les plus stables parmi les dix génotypes testés. Alors qu'en termes d'indice de supériorité (Pi), Polonicum (29,61), Sooty (33,99), Altar84 (34,47) et Mexicali75 (35,37) ont les valeurs les plus faibles de (Pi). L'indice d'adaptabilité géométrique (GAI) a montré que les génotypes Mexicali75 (42,00), Kucuk (40,26) et Altar84 (40,03) sont les plus stables. Les indices non paramétriques Si (2), Si (3), Si (6) ont des corrélations non signifiantes avec le rendement moyen en grains. L’étude de la variabilité génotypique du rendement en grains a montré que Mexicali75 était le génotype qui avait la plus petite variation de rendement au cours des quatre saisons. Globalement, Mexicali75, Hoggar et Kucuk sont les génotypes très stables.

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