Changing parameters of Czechoslovak obsolete and modern bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) over 90 years

Differences achieved in 18 selected morphological, phenological and grain parameters attributable to the wheat breeding process were evaluated on the basis of 262 original Czech and Slovak winter bread wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) developed during 1911–2008 and cultivated in the field and climatic conditions of Crop Research Institute Prague-Ruzyně for 3 years (2010–2012). The wheat breeding process unambiguously has improved grain production parameters, lodging and mildew resistance compared to wheat landraces and obsolete cultivars. Only wheat landrace ‘Visnovska Hustoklasa’ showed a higher resistance to lodging (8 points), no old cultivars registered till 1930 were resistant to mildew. Nevertheless, these economically positive properties of modern wheat cultivars are negatively reflected in lower crude protein content, protein content’s lower stability year to year, and decreased stability of Zeleny sedimentation. The breeding of wheat cultivars during 1961–1990 points to a key period responsible for these parameter changes. At the same time, within this somewhat older wheat group (from 1961–1990), several perspective wheat cultivars with acceptable spike productivity (e.g., ‘Regina’) and high crude protein stability (e.g., ‘Diana II’) were also identified.