**2.2. Grain morphometric analysis**

The aims of present studies were: (1) to generate M<sup>5</sup>

including grain quality and agronomic performance parameters.

**2.1. Plant material and application of induced mutagenesis**

carried out based on individual plants. The plants of M3

were planted immediately after irradiation in order to obtain M1

centrations in parent and M5

168 Global Wheat Production

**2. Materials and methods**

each plant in order to develop the M2

GWP, which were applied in the M3

152(8), 153(4), 153(5), 153(6), 153(7) and 153(8).

and M4

grains per line were estimated.

in the M3

in genetic background of cv. Eritrospermum-35; (2) to evaluate variability in components of productivity, including grain number and weight per main spike (GNS and GWS), grain weight per plant (GWP) and 1000-grain weight (TKW), variability in grain morphometry (size and shape), and quality parameters, namely GPC, grain Fe (GIC), and grain Zn (GZnC) con-

ment of seeds with 100 Gy and 200 Gy and identify those that have high-yield characteristics and improved grain quality traits; and (3) to estimate relationship between two sets of data,

Grains of spring bread wheat variety cv. Eritrospermum-35 (*Triticum aestivum* L.) were irradiated by doses of 100 Gy and 200 Gy from a Co60 source at the Kazakh Nuclear Centre. Grains

was grown in the experimental field of the Kazakh Institute of Agricultural and Farming near Almaty according to the standard agricultural practice. Single spikes were harvested from

in randomized blocks in three replications. The best lines were tested with their parent variety in order to select advanced mutants. The selection criteria for these lines were GWS and

values for the parent cv. Eritrospermum-35 grown under the same trial conditions. In 2011 and 2012, the parent line had a mean of GWS of 0.79 ± 0.24 g and 0.80 ± 0.26 g, a mean of GWP of 2.06 ± 06 g, and 1.41 ± 0.43 g yield values, respectively. The threshold criteria for selection

15 lines from the original 100-Gy radiation dose were selected. These lines were numbered as follows: 105(1), 108(1), 113(1), 113(5), 118(1), 118(2), 118(3), 135(1), 136(1), 138(6), 140(2), 140(3), 140(4), 232(1), and 242(2)). Another 15 lines were selected from the 200-Gy radiation dose, which were numbered: 144(1), 144(2), 149(2), 150(7), 152(1), 152(4), 152(5), 152(6), 152(7),

Samples of grains of each mutant line and the parent were tested. Grain samples from each mutant line, together with the parent Eritrosperumum-35, were planted in a field trial for further evaluation. Each line was grown in three replicate three-row plots, 2 m long, 1.20 m wide with 20 cm between rows, and 30 seeds planted per row. The trial was managed according to the local recommendations for agronomic practices [33]. The following productivity parameters, GWP, GNS, GWS, and TGW calculated as the mean weight of three sets of 100

and M4

best mutants were individually selected in each generation. After harvesting the M5

mutant lines of spring common wheat

plants. The M1

generations (2011 and 2012) and based on the

generation

was

plants,

to M5

generations were planted

mutant lines from generation developed by irradiation treat-

generation. Selection of the best lines from M1

generation were GWS >1.1 g and GWP > 2.2 g for mutant lines. Grains of the

and M4

Morphometric analysis was performed with the WinRHIZO and image analysis system ((version 1.38 2007, Reagent Instruments Inc., Canada) for GL, GW, and GA on 50–60 grains per line and the GL:GW ratio was also calculated.
