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Selection for Kernel Weight in Two Four‐Rowed Spike Populations of Durum Wheat 1
Author(s) -
Haugerud N. G.,
Cantrell R. G.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1984.0011183x002400050003x
Subject(s) - biology , kernel (algebra) , selection (genetic algorithm) , population , grain yield , fecundity , spike (software development) , yield (engineering) , statistics , agronomy , zoology , mathematics , demography , combinatorics , artificial intelligence , materials science , management , sociology , computer science , metallurgy , economics
Selection experiments were conducted on two four‐rowed spike (FRS) or tetrastichon populations of durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. var. durum ) to determine if grain yield could be improved by selection for kernel weight. Populations 1 and 2 were derived from crosses involving two FRS genotypes with known sources of high kernel weight plus fecundity, and high kernel weight, respectively. We selected 28 FRS F 3 families from Population 1 and 37 FRS F 3 families from population 2 for high kernel weight. Equal numbers of families also were randomly chosen from both populations. Selected and random F 2 derived F 4 lines from each population were grown with parents and checks in separate experiments at Langdon, ND in 1981, and spike characters were evaluated. From each population, 15 F 4 families with the highest kernel weight and 15 random families were selected in 1981 and grown in separate experiments at Prosper and Langdon, ND, in 1982. Spike characters, grain yield, and test weight were measured on each plot. Significant gains in kernel weight were obtained in both populations. The improvements in kernel weight were associated with a decline in number of kernels per spike. Selection for kernel weight improved spike productivity and grain yield relative to the FRS parent, but the yields of the selected FRS lines were not significantly higher than the durum cultivars now grown in North Dakota.