STUDY OF VARIABILITY OF WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES AND LINES IN TERMS OF WINTER HARDNESS AND DROUGHT RESISTANCE

The research objective was to identify the peculiarities of the emergence of resistance to adverse environmental factors (winter period and droughts), the assessment of local and foreign mutant lines and varieties for resistance by means of proven express tests. It has been confirmed that both traits are slightly variable under the effect of gamma irradiation. The lines and varieties with such traits have been identified, the relationship between the grain productivity in winter wheat has been described, the availability of these traits has been established, as well as the need to take them into account at creating an up-to-date variety model for the conditions of insufficient humidification with a harsh continental climate (North Steppe of Ukraine) in the conditions of climate change. It has been shown that drought resistance remains the key trait, but the possible mechanism for the realization of the genetically determined yield potential by a variety can also be the timing of ripeness, which may help avoiding the most critical periods (middle and early ripeness).