Premium
Inheritance of Grain Dormacy in White‐Kernelled Wheat
Author(s) -
Paterson A. H.,
Sorrells M. E.
Publication year - 1990
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/cropsci1990.0011183x003000010006x
Subject(s) - biology , dormancy , white (mutation) , sprouting , seed dormancy , germination , agronomy , breed , preharvest , dominance (genetics) , genotype , botany , gene , genetics , postharvest
Preharvest sprouting is a serious problem for seedsmen, growers, and processors of white‐kernelled wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. em Thell). Grain dormancy identified in several white‐kernelled wheats may provide genetic variation necessary to breed sprouting‐resistant white wheats. We have investigated the inheritance of grain dormancy from white‐kernelled wheats ‘dark's Cream’ and NY6432‐ 18, in crosses with white‐kernelled wheats ‘Geneva’ and ‘Houser’. Germination tests were performed on mature seed from several generations, with multilocation testing in advanced generations. Dormancy from each of the two sources shows largely dominant genetic effects, modification by background genotype, and a strong influence of environment. Large variation in dormancy among F 5 single‐seed descent lines derived from dormant but otherwise divergent parents, indicates that multiple dormancy mechanisms remain in the gene pool of domestic white‐kernelled wheats. Because of dominance and substantial nongenetic variation, selection for grain dormancy from these sources is best practiced among near‐homozygous genotypes replicated over environments.