Assessment of durum wheat cultivars based on morphological traits

Understanding genetic diversity of durum wheat germplasm is essential for its identification and efficient use in breeding programs. The goal of this study was to assess genetic diversity of durum wheat cultivars from the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Serbia, with 26 morphological characteristics based on International Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants guidelines. The Shannon diversity index was used as an indicator of morphological diversity and it varies from 0.283, for glaucosity of lower side of the flag leaf blade and density of hairiness of uppermost node of the culm, to 0.950, for the ear color, with the mean value of 0.616, indicating a medium to high level of morphological diversity. On average, the diversity was higher for traits relating to generative organs than for those associated with vegetative organs. The 21 morphological characteristics were sufficient to distinguish unique profiles of all durum wheat varieties.