Genetic Variation of the 20 Bread Wheat Cultivars under Chilling Stress by Using GGE Biplot Analysis

Chilling stress in cereal crops is one major form of cold stresses that be appeared in some regions of Iran every year; and a significant part of all cold losses is just peculiar to this stress.For this purpose study of genetic diversity of 20 bread wheat cultivars using by artificial chilling stress pattern was performed. Experimental material at reproductive stage were treated in four levels of temperature (+8 (control), +2, 0 and -2 degree of Celsius) and then physiological characteristics, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll, proline and fructan, were assessed. GGE biplot is a graphical method to display the information in a bilateral table and were used to visualize any relationships among treatments. The result of variance analysis showed high significant interaction effects between cultivars and each of temperature level for all of characteristics and for this reason there is desirable genetic diversity between cultivars. The graphics obtained from GGE biplot for clustering of these cultivars reveal four clusters: First group includes Orum and Second group covering Navid. Third cluster includes Pishgam, Crasshahi, Line A, Omid and Alvand and fourth group covering other 12 cultivars. The graphics also showed the best cultivar for each trait and also ranked all cultivars based on all traits. By crosses between these cultivars therefore the effective quantitative alleles are distinguishable and usable to the chilling stress tolerance, and marker assisted selection programs.

Chilling Stress; Chlorophyll; Electrolyte Leakage; Fructan; GGE Biplot; Proline; Wheat