Vernalization response and earliness per se in cultivars representing different eras of wheat breeding in Argentina

Argentine wheat cultivars are assumed to be essentially vernalization insensitive or very slightly sensitive. However, there are only speculations on this lack of vernalization requirement and a greater unawareness on the variation in earliness per se. The aims of this research have been to determine the extent of variability in vernalization requirement and earliness per se, and how the variability in both traits was produced by breeding programs, through the release of wheat cultivars from the 1930's to the 1990's in Argentina. Sixty-eight cultivars, selected among those of highest performance in each era, were evaluated under field and glasshouse conditions for their vernalization response and earliness per se. Forty per cent of the cultivars showed some vernalization response. There was a decrease in this requirement along the first decades of the analysed breeding period, likely in response to the considerable introgression of CIMMYT germplasm. This initial trend to release earlier cultivars was also evidenced in a clear decrease in earliness per se. As this tendency in both characteristics was reverted during the last two decades, it may denote that certain vernalization response and not extreme earliness per se, may contribute to achieve higher yield cultivars in our area.