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Sprouting Damage and Kernel Color Relationships in Durum Wheat
Author(s) -
Soper J. F.,
Cantrell R. G.,
Dick J. W.
Publication year - 1989
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/cropsci1989.0011183x002900040010x
Subject(s) - biology , preharvest , germplasm , dormancy , sprouting , agronomy , seed dormancy , ideotype , cultivar , horticulture , germination , postharvest
Sprout damage resulting from rainfall prior to harvest is a serious quality problem in durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. vat. durum ). Field experiments were conducted in Fargo and Langdon, ND during 1984 and 1985 to determine if random intermating would reduce the association between red kernel color and preharvest dormancy in populations derived from the hybridization of amber‐seeded ‘Vic’ and PD44. The line PD44 possesseseed dormancy and red kernel color inherited from a Canadian experimental hard red spring wheat ( T. aestivum L. em. Theli) line, RL4I37. Seed dormancy was assessed by visually rating sprouting within intact spikes in a rainsimulation chamber, and by indirectiy measuring a‐amylase activity in the sprouted grain. The simple phenotypic correlations of kernel color and dormancy parameters were significant ( r = 0.28–0.67) and relatively unchanged by one or two cycles of random intermating. The genetic variability for dormancy was also similar for 0, 1, and 2 intermating cycles. The relationship between red kernel color and strong preharvest dormancy is either due to pleiotropy or extremely tight genetic linkage. Thus the use of red‐seeded germplasm as a source of dormancy for amber‐seeded durum wheat germplasm is of questionable value.