Phenotypic Analysis of Vegetal Genetic Resources Bank “Mihai Cristea” Suceava Germplasm in North-East Romanian Field Conditions

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the among the first three agroeconomic important crop plants, with a high carbohydrate and protein content in grains. In this study, 135 cultivars, from the Vegetal Genetic Resources Bank “Mihai Cristea” Suceava (VGRB) germplasm collection, were phenotypes in field experiments. Morphological traits were observed on the harvest spike prior to threshing. Awn roughness were assessed visually and by sliding one's finger along the central part of the awn in the direction from top to bottom. Flowering dates were retrieved from digitized records of VGRB propagation cycles. Accessions were evaluated in 2020/2021 field trials under a randomized block experimental design. Among the measured phenotypic records there are traits as germination rate, flowering time, disease resistance and yield. Results indicate that VRGB germplasm contains a wide variety of genotypes that have a high agronomical value. Moreover, the germplasm presented a very high variability and can be used as core material for future breeding programs.