Response of Yield and Grain Quality of some Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes to Different Sowing Dates

In order to study effect of sowing dates of some bread wheat genotypes on agronomic, growth, germination, seedling growth and quality characteristics. A field and laboratory experiments were carried out during 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons. Three sowing dates starting from 20th November to 30th December with 20 days intervals and eight wheat genotypes. It could be noticed that delaying sowing date to 30th December resulted in the lowest number of days to maturity, grain yield, germination percentage, germination index, seedling length, seedling vigor index and seedling dry weight as well as protein percentage and gluten quality in both seasons. Misr 1 variety had a significant and highest grain yield compared with the other genotypes in both seasons. Also, it had a significant increment of germination and seedling traits followed by Gemmeiza 11, Line 2 and Line 1 genotypes. Line 2 recorded highest values of crude protein content, wet and dry gluten percentages followed by Misr 1 and Shandweel 1 varieties in both seasons. Tested genotypes could be discendingly arranged according to their grain yield/ha as follows: Misr 1, Line 2, Line 1, Gemmeiza 11 and Shandweel 1. The highest grain yield/ha resulted from planting Misr 1 variety under all sowing dates. The maximum quality measurements were obtained by Line 1 when planting on 20th November in both seasons. It may be recommended that planting Misr 1 to maximize the productivity per unit area while in case of delay in sowing date recommended planting Line 1 or 2 to maximize the unit area yield quantity and quality.