Comparative characteristics of varieties of winter rye according to the number of flowers in spikelets and grain yield

Abstract

Goal. To conduct a comparative analysis of conventional and multi-flower winter rye according to productive characteristics, fruit formation, and grain yield to determine the potential of the use of multi-flower rye in selection. Methods. The study was carried out during 2014–2017 in NSC «Institute of agriculture NAAN» on gray forest soils of the Northern part of Forest-Steppe. The object of research — common rye (Secale vulgare Koern.) and its multi-flower varieties with more flowers in the spikelets of an ear — Secale triflorum, tetraflorum, pentaflorum and 2 natural multi-flower species — Secale var. compositum Lam. and Secale var. monstrosum Koern. Results. Comparative structural analysis of multi-flower rye with the usual 2-flowers winter rye. The increase in the number of 3rd and 4th fertile flowers in the spikelets of an ear positively influenced grain weight in an ear and plant, without reducing significantly the weight of 1000 grains. Rye that formed 5th flower in a spikelet, had a lower performance as to the ear grain content and performance, that was significantly inferior to conventional 2-flower and multi-flower (3 and 4) forms of rye. Conclusions. It is established that in each of many varieties laid a different number of flowers in spikelets that positively and negatively affect fruit formation and grain productivity of winter rye. Natural multi-flower varieties of winter rye are valuable sources of multi-flower ability with the highest number of flowers per ear, but the smallest grain size and lowest indices of grain productivity.