Abstract
Northern Kazakhstan crop production is dominated by spring wheat (12 M ha), with winter wheat occupying a very small area despite its potential for diversification. Winter wheat genetic resources (149 accessions) were evaluated at three sites in Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakh Research and Production Center of Grain, 51.631622 N, 71.031765 E, 2024–26; Karabalyk Agricultural Experimental Station, 53.844492 N, 62.130967 E, 2024–26; North Kazakhstan Agricultural Experimental Station, 54.165411 N, 69.553617 E, 2024 and 2026) and one site in the South (Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, 43.232808 N, 76.703217 E, 2024–26) with the main objective of selecting superior material to be used in production and breeding. Overall, 11 trials were conducted, which included all 149 entries. Variable experimental designs and plot sizes from 1 to 5 m2 with 1–2 replications were employed in the study. The evaluation focused on adaptation traits (vernalization requirements in growth chambers, field winter survival, days to heading and plant height), disease resistance, grain productivity and its components. Three study seasons were favorable for winter wheat, with December–February temperatures above the long-term average, reflecting the climate change tendency. Environmental variation across 11 trials allowed detailed evaluation of the germplasm. Winter survival exceeded 60% at six Northern trials out of eight. Overwintering was negatively affected by low temperatures in January and positively by warmer weather in October and November and snowfall in January. Germplasm vernalization requirements remain an important factor in defining winter survival under severe winter stress. Genetic resources developed outside of the region have great potential for Northern Kazakhstan for winter survival, productivity and disease resistance. Germplasm with short and medium plant height and earliness was competitive with the local taller and later-maturing material, thus expanding the diversity and genetic base for breeding. Material that combined positive characters for Northern Kazakhstan included cultivars and breeding lines from Russia (Don and National Grain Centers, Siberian breeding programs) and the USA (Kansas, Montana and Nebraska).