Analysis of various cultivars of durum wheat cultivated in the highlands of Algeria condition

Some varieties of wheat cultivated in the highland of eastern Algeria are very weak and threatened with extinction, consequently certain cultivars are extinct. This work is within the context of the evaluation of cereal genetic resources in the highland of eastern Algeria. The experimental study was laid out from research station based in Ras El Oued, Bordj Bou Arrerij, Algeria. The experimental design involved a randomized complete block with four replications, 13 biometric characters and a heading stage date. The Principal Component Analysis illustrated a distinct variation between cultivars from the same region. Some of them presented good traits, such as: high yield and early heading stage. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the crucial interest in preserving the cultivars of interest, and to exploit their genetic potential in a breeding programme.