Evaluation of Levante x Karakilcik durum wheat advanced lines for yield related and quality traits using principal component biplot analysis

The Karakilcik landrace is known for its quality traits, especially protein content. However, its high plant height causes lodging and yield loss, which limits the production area. A Levante x Karakilcik population developed by crossing the local Karakilcik wheat with the commercial variety Levante in order to eliminate the disadvantages of Karakilcik and adapt it to wider production areas. In the study, yield, quality, and some physiological traits were investigated in the population. The experiment was conducted in an augmented experimental design in the cropping seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. A total of 36 genotypes from Levante x Karakilcik population, parents and 2 controls were tested. The tested genotypes varied significantly for all investigated traits (P P < 0.01). Principal component biplot analysis explained 69.3% of the variations and relationships between the traits and genotypes. Among the investigated traits, genotypes LK26, LK19 and LK3 outperformed their parents in 5 traits (spike length (SL), number of spikelets per spike (SNS), number of grain numbers per spike (GNS), protein content (PC) and wet gluten content (G)), 4 traits (SNS, grain weight per spike (GWS), GNS and PC) and 3 traits (grain yield (GY), GNS and test weight (TW)), respectively. The genotype LK3 for yield and the genotypes LK19 and LK26 for quality traits could be recommended to growers and breeders.