ANALYSIS OF GENETIC PROFILES OF WINTER WHEATS FROM RUSSIA (REPRINTED FROM WHEAT - PROSPECTS FOR GLOBAL IMPROVEMENT, 1998)

With the aid of GRIS, the wheat genetic resources database, the retros pective analysis of winter wheat breeding programs in the ex-USSR duri ng its existence, and modern Russia, was conducted. The dynamics of ge netic diversity of released cultivars was studied. A significant tende ncy to reduce the use of local materials was discovered, although a st able set of original ancestors has prevailed over the last 40 years. T he modern cultivar genes pool has increased as a result of the utilisa tion of North American semidwarf varieties. Breeding programs at diffe rent breeding centres are distinguished by varying levels of genetic d iversity. The need to discover new sources of disease resistance and e nvironmental adaptation are problems that remain.