Screening for root and shoot traits in different wheat species and wild wheat relatives

Background: Definitive comparison on root traits of wheat landraces, ancient wheats and wild wheat relatives are scarce. Those adaptive genetic resources with superior root and shoot traits can be utilized in breeding programs. Questions: Do modern wheats have more superior root and shoot traits than ancient wheat species and wild wheat relatives? Studied species: We performed large-scale screening for significant root and shoot traits of 47 different genotypes including cultivars, lines, landraces, ancient wheat species and wild wheat relatives belonging to 14 different species. Study site and years: was carried out in Central Anatolian Conditions of Turkey from October, 2013 to July, 2014. Methods: This study was conducted at 200 cm long tube under field weather conditions where plants can translate superior performance. Results: A wide range of variations in terms of root and shoot traits were observed among the screened wheat cultivars, lines, landraces, ancient wheat species and wild wheat relatives. The grain yield per plant and root length per plant varied from 2.11 to 12.30 g and 134.7 to 250.7 cm in the cultivars, lines and landraces, respectively, while they ranged from 0.23 to 6.49 g and 170.0 to 240 cm in the ancient wheat species and wild wheat relatives. Conclusions: The superior genotypes that had longer root system and high grain yield can be considered in breeding programs to improve high yielding genotypes and deep-rooted system.