Comprehensive assessment of spring soft wheat in terms of CRNZ by index method

The article presents the research carried out in 2019-2021. For this research 15 varieties of spring soft wheat of different ecological and geographical origin were selected. The article provides the results of varieties evaluation for economically valuable traits by two ways – traditional method and method of complex indexes. The trials were carried out in CRNZ (Central Regions of Non-chernozem zone). Agronomic practices are industry standard for this zone. The recording and monitoring were accomplished according to the Methodology of the State Variety Testing. The varieties with minimal set of negative traits were selected. They are KVS Akvilon, Ekada 109, Zlata, Tyumen 25, Ekada 66 and Chernozemno-Ural'skaja 2. These varieties are recommended for usage in the breeding process of winter wheat in terms of CRNZ. The article demonstrates that the evaluation by index method helps to select valuable varieties without contradicting the data of statistical processing. This allows us to recommend this method of evaluation when analyzing many samples at any stage of breeding process. Keywords: WHEAT, BREEDING, COLLECTION, INDICES, CROP YIELD