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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Crop and Product Physiology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1456062

The first assessment of grain yield and associated traits in durum wheat across a decade in Nepal

Provisionally accepted
Dhruba Thapa Dhruba Thapa 1*Mahesh Subedi Mahesh Subedi 1Manoj Sapkota Manoj Sapkota 2Suman Bohara Suman Bohara 1Keshab R. Pokhrel Keshab R. Pokhrel 1Laxman Aryal Laxman Aryal 1Basistha Acharya Basistha Acharya 1Santosh R. Tripathi Santosh R. Tripathi 1Chhotelal Chaudhary Chhotelal Chaudhary 1Bramanti Mahato Bramanti Mahato 1Krishna Timsina Krishna Timsina 1Velu Govindan Velu Govindan 3Arun K. Joshi Arun K. Joshi 4*
  • 1 Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • 2 Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
  • 3 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (Mexico), Texcoco, Tabasco, Mexico
  • 4 The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Rapid urbanization and evolving dietary preferences have heightened the demand for durum wheat and its derivatives in developing nations like Nepal. This study represents the first comprehensive exploration and evaluation of durum wheat genotypes in Nepal, addressing the escalating need for high-yielding varieties. The primary objective was to identify stable and prolific durum wheat lines for release, enhancing Nepal's durum wheat breeding program. Utilizing genotypes from CIMMYT's disease screening and yield nurseries from 2011/12 to 2020/21, a total of 132 genotypes, including international checks, underwent evaluation over ten years under the Alpha Lattice design. Results revealed significant variation among genotypes for grain yield and other traits, identifying highyielding and stable lines suitable for Nepal. Heritability analysis highlighted moderate heritability for grain number per spike, thousand-grain weight, and grain yield. Cluster analysis identified distinct clusters with high grain yield and desirable agronomic traits. Disease incidence facilitated the selection of resistant lines, with DWK38 emerging as the highest grain yielder (4416.04 kg/ha). Overall, durum wheat lines from CIMMYT exhibited robust performance in Nepal, enabling the identification of superior lines with potential benefits for farmers and consumers. The study's implications include developing and releasing superior durum lines in Nepal, providing farmers with profitable alternatives amidst evolving food habits. In conclusion, the findings from this study provide a valuable foundation for future durum wheat breeding efforts in Nepal, guiding the selection of genotypes that are wellsuited to the diverse environmental challenges of the region.

    Keywords: durum wheat, yield, Genetic Variation, Cluster analysis, Breeding

    Received: 27 Jun 2024; Accepted: 24 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Thapa, Subedi, Sapkota, Bohara, Pokhrel, Aryal, Acharya, Tripathi, Chaudhary, Mahato, Timsina, Govindan and Joshi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Dhruba Thapa, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal
    Arun K. Joshi, The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.