Physiology of growth and yield of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)‎ : a comparison of indigenous and exotic cultivars of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

-Ten cultivars of wheat (3 local and 7 exotic) were evaluated for growth, development, yield and yield components in 1978/1979.

The highest grain yield (7.8 tonslh a) was obt ained by the semi-dwarf Mexican wheat cultivar , Mexip ak.

As to the local cultivars , Summa ranked third , while Luggami and Kholani were the lowest.

Almost similar amounts of tot al dry matter were produced by the low and high yielding cultivars in the pre-anthesi s stage .

In the post- anthesis stage, however , Mexipak accumulated the highest amount of total dry matter that was mainly stored by the devel oping spike s.

The high dry matter accumulation in Mexipak was appa rently att ributed to a high leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate maint ained at the end of the growing season.

Correlation coefficient indicated th at weight and number of grain s per spike and number of tiller s were the most correlated characters with yield .

It is therefore , evident th at the incorporation of these tr aits together with oth er physiomorphological traits of Mexipak in the local cultivars may lead to the relea se of high yielding cultivars.