Genetic Control of Protein From Avena sterilis L. 1

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the genetic control for high percent groat protein from Avena sterilis L. in agronomically acceptable lines selected from crosses of A. sativa L . ✕ A. sterilis . Six agronomically acceptable lines with the same source of high protein (CI 8320) were crossed in a diallel system (Experiment 1). Also, a high protein selection which has fair agronomic performance but is not competitive as a commercial variety, was crossed to 16 A. sativa cultivars and advanced breeding lines (Experiment 2). Genetic effects and regression coefficients for F 1 and F 2 cross means on their respective midparent values for seed yield and percent groat protein were estimated in both experiments. In Experiment 1, general combining ability predominated for percent groat protein in the F 1 generation. Low percent groat protein was partially dominant. In Experiment 2. F 1 's generally produced a slightly lower percent groat protein than the midparent value and averaged 37.2% heterosis for seed yield. Heterosis for seed yield was greatly reduced in the F 2 , but percent groat protein was slightly higher than for F 1 's. High percent groat protein tended to be recessive in 15 of the 16 crosses. Regression coefficients for F 1 and F 2 cross means on their respective midparent values for percent groat protein in the two experiments ranged from 0.507 to 1.352. Intermating adapted, high‐yielding, homozygous lines with intermediate levels of protein for one or more cycles may be useful in concentrating alleles for high protein in commercial cultivars.