Influence of Genotype, Crop Management, and Environment on Winter Wheat Grain Yield Determination Based on Components of Yield

The objectives of this study were to determine the contributions of genotype, management, and environment, as well as the effects of their interactions, on variations in the grain yield and its components for 25 cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and to evaluate the differences between the patterns of yield determination in two different groups of environments. The field trials performed in this study were performed across eight locations in Poland divided into two groups as follows: four with favorable and four with unfavorable soil conditions during two growing seasons. Variance components were used to test the impact of the cultivars, locations, years, and crop management and the effects of their interactions on grain yield and its components. The data for each cultivar were analyzed with path analysis and cluster analysis to distinguish groups of cultivars that had similar patterns of yield determination using three yield components and a grain yield quantity. The results of the study showed that a significant effect on grain yield was observed for management, but the responsiveness of its components was different depending on the location. Favorable soil conditions only caused variability in the spike number, whereas under unfavorable soil conditions, higher input management with intensive N fertilization caused a change in the number of grains per spike. The results of this study indicate that different yield formation patterns exist among bread wheat and that these patterns primarily depend on the genotype and growing conditions.