Abstract: We examined the effects of three sowing dates on the growth period, yield, and quality of eight genotypic varieties of wheat. Results showed that growth period of different varieties was significantly shortened with the postponement of sowing date, and that the change from sowing to jointing stage was the most obvious stage, followed by the pollinating to ripening stage. The stages affected by sowing date differed to a certain extent among wheat varieties with different winterness-springness characteristics. In terms of yield, the spike number of different wheat varieties increased under early sowing condition, with the number of fertile spikelets being the most in winterness wheat varieties. Therefore, proper early sowing can increase the yield of winterness wheat varieties. Under late sowing condition, the number of fertile spikelets in weak-springness varieties was also increased. The protein content of wheat grains had relatively small changes, while the wet gluten content generally showed a downward trend with the delay of sowing date. Wheat varieties with the same winterness-springness characteristics had similar response to sowing date with respect to grain hardness. In the two-year trials, the quality traits of wheat showed obvious genotypic effects and inter-annual variations. Further research is needed to clarify the reasons.

Key words: sowing date, wheat, growth period, yield, quality.