The effects of planting dates on growth and development stages of different cultivars of wheat in semi arid condition of Iran

This experiment was conducted in 2008–2009 to evaluate the effects of planting dates on growth and development stages of different cultivars of wheat in semi arid condition, in khaton Abad Agricultural Research Station of Islamic university of khorasgan branch, Esfahan, Iran. A split plot layout within randomized completely block design with 3 replications was used. Different planting date levels were in 3 levels including (22th October , 6th November, 2th December) as the main plot and cultivars were in 6 levels including [Kavir and Shiraz (with spring growth habit) , Alvand and Mahdavi (with facultative growth habit) , Gaskoghen and C81 – 14 line (with winter growth habit)] as the subplot. Planting date had significant effect on the number of days from vegetative stage to reproductive stage, the number of days until 50% of spiking stage, the number of days until 50% of anthesis stage, the number of days until physiological ripening, the number of infertile tiller without spike per m2, the number of infertile tiller without spike per plant, the number of infertile tiller with hollow spike per m2 and per plant. All experimental characteristics were affected by cultivar expect of the number of infertile tiller with hollow spike per m2 and per plant. Planting date and cultivar had no significant effects on experimental characteristics. The maximum number of days from vegetative stage to reproductive stage, days until 50% of spiking stage, days until physiological ripening was obtained in 22th Oct. The lowest number infertile tiller and hollow spike per m2 and per plant was achieved in 22th Oct. The highest number of fertile tiller per m2 and per plant was achieved in Shiraz. This cultivar had significant differences with all other cultivars expect of Kavir. The highest and the lowest number of tiller without spike per m2 were obtained in C81-14 and Shiraz, respectively. The minimum number of infertile tiller per was related to Shiraz. This cultivar just had significant difference with Mahdavi and C81-14.