ABSTRACT
Poor adaptability or functional quality of much germplasm used for breeding high-protein hard red winter wheats prompted mutagenesis as an alternative means of increasing grain protein content. Four hard red winter wheat genotypes - KS644 ('Triumph// Concho/Triumph'), 'Kaw', 'Parker', and 'Shawnee' - were treated with 0.40 M ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). Advanced lines (M8-M10) were selected that had a 3-year mean grain protein advantage of 0.7% to 2.0% over controls. Increased grain protein content was generally associated with decreased grain yield and kernel weight, but some high-protein mutant lines had yields or kernel weights similar to those of original genotypes. Changes in height and lodging induced by EMS were generally favorable, most mutants being shorter and lodging less than controls, but blooming date was generally delayed, a deleterious change. One line also changed from resistant to segregating for wheat soil-borne mosaic virus. Mutant lines might be utilized in cross-breeding programs, particularly if negative pleiotropic effects and linkages are absent.
ABSTRACT
Studies were conducted to determine the influence of the male sterility-inducing cytoplasm of Triticum timopheevii (Zhuk.) Zhuk. on response of several common winter wheat (T. aestivum L.) nuclear genotypes to photoperiod and vernalization. Comparative studies of cytoplasmic substitution lines provide information on the role of the cytoplasmic genetic mechanism in growth and development. In the case of cytoplasmic male sterility-based hybrid production systems, ubiquity of sterility-inducing cytoplasm in derived hybrids warrants thorough characterization of its influence on plant phenotype. Factorial combinations of cytoplasm (T. timopheevii and T. aestivum), nuclear genotype, and photoperiod or vernalization treatments were evaluated under hydroponic conditions in controlled environment chambers. Interaction of cytoplasm, photoperiod, and nuclear genotype was significant in one or more experiments for days to anthesis and potential spikelet number, and interaction of cytoplasm, vernalization, and nuclear genotype was significant for days to spike emergence. Long day length was associated with increased percentage seed set in one study, but interactions of photoperiod and cytoplasm were not detected for percentage seed set. Interactions involving cytoplasm and photoperiod or vernalization were interpreted as evidence of the existence of genetic factors in cytoplsam of T. timopheevii which alter photoperiod or vernalization responses of alloplasmic plants relative to responses exhibited by euplasmic plants. Since photoperiod and vernalization responses are critical to adaptation, T. timopheevii cytoplasm can alter adaptability of T. aestivum. The specific effect would be nuclear genotype dependent, and does not appear to be of a magnitude greater than that induced by nuclear genetic variability at loci conditioning photoperiod or vernalization responses or other adaptation-determining characteristics. Normal multilocation/year testing of alloplasmic hybrids should therefore adequately identify zones of adaptation.
ABSTRACT
We observed pairing, when the ph gene was present, between wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) chromosome 4B, and an Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv. chromosome (Ai) carrying a gene resistant to wheat streak mosaic (WSM). In a monosomic addition polyhaploid [2n = 22 = 19' + 5B' (ph) + 4B' + Ai'], we recorded an average of 4.1 bivalents and 0.3 trivalents per cell. Induced homoeologous pairing was most effective when both 5B chromosomes carrying ph gene were present. Our data suggest that chromosome 4B of wheat and the Agropyron chromosome (Ai) carrying a gene for resistance to WSM are homoeologous and that it is possible to use either ph mutant or nullisomic 5B stock to induce genetic recombination between the two chromosomes.
